A British Army veteran who has lived in the UK for over 20 years is 'living in fear each and every second' of being deported to Zimbabwe. Joram Nechironga, 42, served in Iraq during his five years in the armed forces but is now in a legal battle with the Home Office, which wants to remove him to Zimbabwe, where he claims he has no connections and faces danger.
Mr Nechironga, a father of two, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked to his frontline experiences, which at one stage led him to turn to drinking. He served 17 months in prison until 2019 for assault of a family member. Since his release, the government has sought to deport him, despite his apologies and desire to continue his life in the UK and receive mental health treatment.
His local MP, Zarah Sultana, has urged ministers to intervene, noting that Mr Nechironga has 'turned his life around' working as a painter and decorator. He served with 9 Supply Regiment based at Hullavington Barracks in Wiltshire and was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2007. However, after his conviction, he was served with a deportation decision in January 2019.
Mr Nechironga spent almost a month in Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre earlier this year and was nearly deported on March 2. He says he cannot work, study or claim benefits since his release. His solicitors have made representations based on his mental health and the 'dangerous environment' in Zimbabwe, where he claims he was 'tortured and beaten' for serving in the British Army during a 2006 visit.
The Home Office has rejected his protection claim and application to revoke the deportation order, citing 'inconsistencies' in his account. Decisions were made on April 14 but not communicated until June 13, which his solicitor, Andrew Nyamayaro, called a 'ploy' to frustrate a judicial review. Mr Nechironga is now raising funds to launch a judicial review, his 'only hope'.
