A GROUP of Zimbabwean exiles staged a rally in Bournemouth town centre to highlight their country's worsening plight under the rule of President Robert Mugabe.

Despite losing a general election this year, the elderly dictator and his Zanu-PF party have managed to cling on to power through violence and bullying while the country continues to spiral into economic chaos.

Desmond Tinarwo, a Movement for Democratic Change opposition party supporter who lives in Bournemouth after fleeing his homeland five years ago, said: "We're just trying to rally support. People think we're just coming here for a good life, that we're probably economic immigrants.

"As everyone should know by now, Mugabe has become a law unto himself. If you are even caught criticising him, let alone trying to get rid of him, you know what's going to happen to you. He has been getting rid of his opponents since the 1980s.

"A few of us who are here and able to work do the best we can to support those left at home. We want British people to know all the reasons that make us decide to leave our homes. No-one wants to live in exile. We came to this country to protect our lives."

Dadirai Matambanadzo, who travelled from Slough to take part in the march, came to Britain as an asylum seeker in September 2001 and has not been allowed to work. "My life was in danger. My husband used to work for a British company and those were targeted. Zanu-PF came looking for him. He wasn't around, so I was beaten up.

"I used to own two hairdressing salons and would like to continue with that. Life is miserable. I want to work and I definitely want to go back to my beautiful country."

Stella Gideon, now living in Poole, said she had been jailed for four months after working here illegally as a care assistant for four years. "I used a Malawi passport to come here four years ago because of the fear of violence. They kidnapped my husband, who was an active member of the MDC, and they wanted to kill me. Right now I don't know where my husband is.

"I was arrested in February because I was using false documents. I don't have anything to allow me to work in this country, but I want to work to support my family, who are suffering in Zimbabwe. My four children are not going to school and it's difficult to keep in touch because I don't want to put my mother in danger."

Protest organiser Musekiwa Herbert Mumbamarwo, said: "Things have got worse since I left Zimbabwe six years ago. My life would be in danger if I went back."