AN asylum seeker who lives in Scotland with his wife and baby daughter who was told by the Home Office to take his family back to Zimbabwe, has spoken of his relief after being granted permission to stay here following a seven-year battle.

The 40-year-old is a former activist with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), now Zimbabwe’s official opposition, and wants to remain anonymous because he fears reprisals both in and outside the country.

He first came to the UK 10 years ago and last year married a woman from Zimbabwe who has lived here for almost 18 years.

They made their home in West Lothian and their daughter was born prematurely in Edinburgh earlier this year.

The National told in August how he had asked his MP – Martyn Day – for help after being refused leave to remain in the UK and told to take his daughter with him to Zimbabwe.

Only his elderly father still lives there but other family members have moved to South Africa because of the political volatility in their homeland.

The asylum seeker yesterday gave his reaction to the news he had been praying for: “I was numb because it wasn’t easy. There were so many rejections over the past seven years, I was not able to work and it was surreal and then I had to pinch myself when I realised it was real “My wife was so ecstatic, she just couldn’t believe it. It’s been a very long battle. Thanks to The National and Martyn who fought for us and now we are at peace with everything now. Words alone cannot express how thankful I am.

“They gave me discretionary leave to remain, which is two-and-a-half years and I can extend after that, but it’s somewhere to start from and now I’m just looking for work.”

He previousyly worked in politics and did his Masters in cultural policy and management.

“My goal was to be a political adviser, and now I’m looking at getting back into working in politics,” he said.

Martyn Day told The National: “I’m very pleased and I think it’s the right result for him and his family, after all his daughter war born in Scotland.

“He’s an asset to the local community and I’m delighted that he’s able to stay.”

The MP said this did not mean the hostile environment was even close to ending: “I think this is just a good result in a lousy system.

“A lot of work has to be done to remove the hostile environment.

“There’s still no change to the guidance and who knows what the next government will decide.

“In this case the guy was genuinely under threat and there was public pressure on the Home Office.”

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