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Patricia

At the start of 2001, Patricia was finally reaping the rewards of a decade of hard work as a music promoter in Zimbabwe. After seven albums, her 12-strong band were enjoying rave reviews, airplay and chart hits. That was until Patricia wrote a song that told the truth.

"We released a song about what was happening in Zimbabwe. It talked about poverty and AIDS. I was asking, 'Where are we going, when is this going to end?' The song said that people were no better off than animals.

"Back home, musicians are paid to play pro-government songs. Our songs touched a lot of people, but it was banned by Zanu PF, the ruling party of Robert Mugabe. That's what got us into trouble."

Patricia was a member of Zimbabwe's opposition part, the Movement for Democratic Change. Her band was targeted by Zanu PF's youth brigades and war veteran militia.

"They began to persecute us everywhere we went. They rammed our van with their army vehicle and some band members suffered broken legs. Another night they burst into a show with sticks and guns and began beating us and the audience. One of our dancing girls was struck with a gun on the back of the head. Many weeks later she died. At our last gig they turned up saying that they were going to kill me. A band member warned me to get away. I thought, 'I can't gamble with my life.' I got the first available flight to the UK."

Patricia, 35, is living in Manchester while she awaits the outcome of her asylum claim. The rest of the band have all since claimed asylum in the UK.

"I had made my way in a very male-dominated business, but just as I had found success I had to run. Now I have to start from scratch. I am not allowed to work and I feel isolated."

"I had to bring my 15-year-old son here. He was about to take his O-levels in Zimbabwe and now he will have to start over again. I can't even open a bank account. I get very frustrated. I can't sit and do nothing day after day. It plays on my mind."

Refugee Action staff in Manchester are helping Patricia to settle into the community and rebuild her career. So far, she and her band have been able to perform a few promotional concerts.