Zimbabwean protests deportation

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th May 2008

A Zimbabwean woman has said her family will lose their independence if she is forced to return to her homeland. Kudzayi Zinzombe, 25, from Exeter, cares for her disabled brother while their mother works as a nurse. Kudzayi came to Britain two years ago, but now she has been told she cannot stay because she was over 18 when she arrived and therefore not a dependent.

The UK Border Service has told her that she must go back to Zimbabwe by late July, or face deportation. Kudzayi's brother, Emmanuel Zinzombe, 16, has cerebral palsy and needs round-the-clock care.

"There's no way I can cope without her" Mercy Zinzombe

Their mother, Mercy, works in the intensive care unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

She said: "I can't even imagine not having her [Kudzayi] really. My husband passed away and we used to work together looking after Emmanuel, there's no way I can cope without her."

The family currently support themselves but Mercy fears that if Kudzayi is deported she may have to give up her job and start claiming benefits. A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said they were unable to comment on individual cases.