Former Zimbabwe Army Chaplain Living in Fear of Being Deported from the UK

A FORMER army chaplain and failed asylum seeker said he "fears for his life" after being threatened with forced repatriation to Zimbabwe.

Garikayi Bimha, his wife Bridget, and 19-year-old daughter Miriam, who is studying hairdressing at City College Plymouth, have lived in St Judes in Plymouth since 2009.

They have been told to leave the UK and return to the troubled African country after having three asylum appeals denied.

The family received a letter instructing them to leave their current address, supplied by the National Asylum Support Service, part of the UK Border Agency, by Saturday, but made the decision to leave yesterday for fear of being raided by immigration officials.

But Mr Bimha, who was forced to join the Zimbabwean National Army in 1979, has said if he is made to return to the country he will be "tortured and killed" for deserting his post as Army Chaplain in one of President Mugabe's Presidential Guards. The 51-year-old, who followed his family to the UK in 2003, said: "The Zimbabwean Army said they would not allow me to come and study in England so I applied to resign but they refused that too.

"I took four weeks annual leave and went to England on a student visa to both further my theological studies and escape atrocities and corruption in the country which I didn't agree with.

"I made the choice not to go back and from then on I was considered a deserter by the army – I am a wanted man in Zimbabwe – an enemy of the state.

"I fear for my life – if I'm sent back I will be tortured and killed.

"My photograph is everywhere in Africa, it's in every military base, posted in the streets and to them I am their enemy."

Mr Bimha was granted a two-year UK student visa in 2003 to study at Bristol which was then renewed until 2007 when he was successfully granted a missionary visa after securing work as an assistant minister.

In 2008 his application to renew that missionary visa was denied, he said, because it was one day late.

Further appeals and attempts to claim asylum have all been denied.

Mr Bimha said: "There is also a chance that Bridget could be harassed if we are forced back. We don't know what to do and are appealing to anyone who could help us fight the Home Office."

An e-petition, with over 1,000 signatures, has been lodged by a member of the church Mr Bimha and his family attend. It states: "HM Government believe the situation in Zimbabwe does not pose a threat to Gari and his family. The reality is that he faces torture and execution if forced to return.

"The family wholeheartedly participate in the life of Plymouth and of their community. We believe that this decision is against all sense of humanity and natural justice."

Oliver Colville, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, who has been in contact with the family, said he was making sure all options had been considered by the Government and processes had been followed.

A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: "Mr Bimha's case has been carefully considered by the Agency and by the courts, where an immigration judge found that he had not deserted the Zimbabwean army and had lawfully resigned before coming to the UK as a student.

"The judge found that Mr Bimha's claims of persecution lacked credibility and he would be welcomed back to Zimbabwe for his loyal service.

"The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it, but people who do not have a genuine need for our protection must return to their home country or face removal."

Mrs Bimha added: "People just want us out of the country. As long as we are out of England they are happy – they don't care what happens to us."

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