Andy Grant Muzondiwa: My Story

My name is Andy Grant Muzondiwa and I grew up in a township in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Mugabe’s henchmen would carry out regular checks in our township, asking if we supported Mugabe. They would ask for evidence, such as a framed picture of Mugabe.

My parents worked hard to provide for me, but they believed in tough love, so it was normal in Zimbabwe to suffer abuse.

My parents also believed any adult was qualified to parent their children, so it was acceptable for the teachers to beat me with a hockey stick.

I thought that all this violence from the Police, parents and teachers was normal, but it left me traumatised and fearful of authority figures.

We used to play soccer in the dust fields in the township. I also loved to play basketball. My dream was to play in the NBA. At school, I excelled at English and History. However, my fear of authority caused friction between my basketball coach and I. I finished up studying Computer Programming.

Believing in democracy and freedom, I began passing information to the Movement for Democratic Change in my neighbourhood, The Police found out and sent out an arrest warrant. My house was then smashed up by people chanting “Mugabe”, so I realised I had to flee. I wanted to stand up for the MDC and freedom for everyone regardless of race, but the violence became too much, and I realised I had to escape to survive. It was an incredibly scary time. I caught a flight to England where I lived with my older brother who’d moved to London.

In England, I really struggled due to my fear of authority, especially with the Police. I realised that I needed counseling, but it took me a long time to overcome my fear of authority to seek help.

I also struggled because I realised that being black and having a different accent instantly made some people dislike me.

However, in trying to overcome this, I studied Fitness Instructor Level 2 and Painting & Decorating while in the UK. I hope to put these to good use when I’m allowed to work.

When I applied for asylum in the UK, I was forcibly separated from my brother and sent to live in Manchester. As an asylum seeker, you’re not allowed to work to make money, or to receive benefits, so I seriously struggled.

However, I continued with my love of basketball and started coaching. I also started cutting hair for charities.

I still love the political Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and have previously been elected as Manchester Branch Secretary and Manchester District Youth Secretary. I am now the Vice-Organising Secretary for Manchester MDC, where we speak about how to support the campaign to remove Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

I also set up Free Zimbabwe UK, a campaign whose aim is to help support the growing calls for democracy in Zimbabwe.

My first asylum application was rejected because the UK government don’t believe that I am under threat in Zimbabwe, but it is dangerous for a known political opponent to return to Zimbabwe. I’ve now been here for 14 years.

However, the Manchester-based refugee charity RAPAR stepped in the help me with the legal work for my second asylum application, and I am also receiving support from the Gaskell Garden Project.

If you’d like to support me, you can go to my Free Zimbabwe UK website, follow me on Twitter, or donate to the Gaskell Garden Project via the website page.