 Zimbabwe has received the first batch of dozens of citizens being deported from Britain. Some were sent back after staying in that country for decades. They were forced to leave families behind to face an uncertain future back at home. Rights groups and politicians in Britain had mounted pressure to stop the deportations, arguing that the deportee is at risk of persecution in Zimbabwe. The first group of deported Zimbabweans were people convicted of committing crimes in Britain. The United Kingdom says it has a right to deport foreigners who commit serious crimes after they serve out their sentences. Zimbabwean authorities have dismissed fears that the returnees would be persecuted.