AM backs Zimbabwe visa appeal

White farmers have been forced off their land

A south Wales politician is campaigning to get a British visa for a Zimbabwean citizen who said he is fear for his life.

David Davies, Welsh Assembly member for Monmouthshire, is supporting the 22-year-old man, known only as John, who wants to join his mother, who now lives near the Welsh borders.

We can't help you because you don't have the right to a British passport

John, visa claimant

John claims his life is under threat in Zimbabwe, but says he cannot get a visa because the officer in charge of applications is away on holiday.

However, on Friday evening, Mr Davies announced that the British Embassy in Harare will provide a visa to John but at a cost of £6,000 - which he says, John cannot afford.

Mr Davies appealed to Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, to investigate allegations that John was turned away when he sought help from the British Consulate.

Mr Straw has promised to look into the case.

John, who was born in Zimbabwe but is the grandchild of British citizens, has allegedly been beaten by Harare police officers.

He said he went to the British High Commission in Zimbabwe for a visa, but was turned away.

The man said he informed staff at the commission of his situation.

"I was assaulted by the police and I started telling him my story," he said.

Passport rights

"He asked 'was your mother born in the UK' and I said no.

"He asked 'was your father born in the UK' and I said no - only my grandparents were born in the UK.

"He said, no we can't help you because you don't have the right to a British passport."

David Davies, Monmouthshire MP, who recently helped launch Zimbabwe Hope, a scheme to help citizens forced out of the country, said the man is entitled to a British visa.

David Davies is angry at the situation

"This gentleman has got right of abode in Britain because his grandparents were British.

"How we do this, I don't know - I'm not an expert, but that is what the staff in the consulate should be there to sort out.

"His life is under threat, he has been asked to report to police.

"He is on the run from the police in Harare at the moment - he has been beaten up by police once already and has been warned that if he does get picked up by the police, his life and safety cannot be guaranteed.

"Anyone who is a British passport holder has the right of citizenship in Britain.

"It seems there is only one person at the British High Commission in Zimbabwe who can help and he is on holiday.

Jack Straw has promised to investigate

"The foreign office has not sent anyone to cover and that is absolutely disgraceful when you consider the country is falling apart at the moment," he added.

Jack Straw said that he would examine the evidence.

"I will look carefully at this complaint," said Mr Straw.

"I can't comment more than that because I haven't got all the details.

"Except to say it is implausible that anyone in the British High Commission would have been able to talk to him about an asylum application which is what I understand heI went there for.

"No British High Commission in the world entertains asylum applications - asylum can only be claimed in Britain on our territory," he said.