BY ITAI DZAMARA, HARARE - The USA government is planning to deport some 400 children and relatives of top Zanu (PF) and government officials at the beginning of next month, highly-placed sources have told The Zimbabwean.

US authorities have finalised a list of about 400 children and relatives of those it accuses of fostering the economic, political and social misgovernance that has condemned the majority of Zimbabweans to abject poverty, said the source.

Recent meetings finalised the list and agreements were reached regarding the modalities. The deportations are likely to start as soon as next month, he added. Efforts have also been made to establish the sources of income of those concerned, as well as the means that led to them being in the USA. This information will be used to prove that they benefit from the system of patronage operated by Zanu (PF) and the government.

Australia pulled the first trigger two months ago when it deported kids of Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, Rural Housing and Social Amenities minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, much to the chagrin of the Zanu (PF) regime which responded by issuing threats against the MDC who it accuses of being responsible for sanctions.

European countries, led by the United Kingdom, are expected to follow suit and deport Zanu (PF) leaders' kids studying or staying there. These countries argue that it is immoral for senior officials in the Mugabe regime to spend huge amounts of scarce foreign currency on sending their kids to study in western capitals when their corrupt and repressive policies have led to the destruction not only of the Zimbabwean economy, but also of the education system.