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Zimbabwe's destitute Britons to be repatriated
Up to 500 destitute Britons living in Zimbabwe are to be repatriated after their savings and pensions were wiped out by President Robert Mugabe's economic policies. The first five will return this weekend after the British embassy in Harare arranged for them to be flown home. The group, which includes former colonial administrators, wives and civil servants, have seen their assets destroyed by hyperinflation. Their air fares are being paid by the British taxpayer and officials said each person would be given permanent accommodation in Britain and the same entitlement to state benefits as any other pensioner. We'll just cut everyone else's benefits 'a bit'.... Fred Noble, a 78-year-old Scot, will return to Fife this weekend, 51 years after he and his wife departed with £100 for what was then Britains Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia. He worked for Rhodesian Railways, retiring on a pension with medical aid 13 years ago. "I helped more people than helped me and I deserve a Christian burial. I dont want to get ill in Zimbabwe," said Mr Noble, who lost his wife four years ago and was the second pensioner to apply for "repatriation" at the British Embassy. Mr Mugabes bankrupt regime stopped paying his pension five years ago, leaving Mr Noble dependent on his investments. Note to union pensioners who think the gubermint is their friend When Zimbabwes inflation reached more than 230 million per cent, the value of his portfolio plunged to less than a penny. Are we here in the US far behind? Posted by: Mullah Richard 2009-06-03 |
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