THURSDAY 20/10/2005 16:36:52
U.TV
Big Brother star Makosi fears being attacked by violent mobs if deported back to her native Zimbabwe where she has been branded a "low-life lesbian", an immigration tribunal heard today.
The 25-year-old former nurse "would be an ideal target for vicious Mugabe youths and other thugs" who believe she has "offended African conservative morality" by her sexy antics, her counsel, Mark Henderson, told the Central London Asylum and Immigration tribunal.
A preliminary hearing in her appeal against a Home Office decision to curtail her work permit which is linked to her visa began today. Her asylum status is now also under the spotlight.
Makosi was given notice to quit in August after she resigned her job as a cardiac nurse at High Wycombe hospital, Buckinghamshire, to go on Big Brother.
But now Makosi is effectively facing an immigration hearing where, even if she loses, she cannot be deported.
This follows a legal ruling made in the High Court last week.
The government, at the moment, is not deporting failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers back to their homeland because they cannot yet find a safe way to remove them.
To deport her would breach the Refugee Convention and the Human Rights Act, it was argued.
Makosi applied for a new visa after coming third in the Channel 4 show. She was arrested on August Bank Holiday Monday and quizzed for five hours by immigration officials after being pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt in her sister`s car.
Makosi is famous in Zimbabwe for all the wrong reasons, the tribunal heard.
Mr Henderson said: "One new media organisation, New Zimbabwe, had described her as a `low-life lesbian`.
A headline read: `Every Zimbabwean Should Be Ashamed`.
"Quite apart from the general issue of risk to returnees, she would be at grave risk because she is perceived to have gone to Britain and acted in a shameful and un-African manner and violated Zimbabwean taboo."
Makosi`s legal team also accuse the Home Office of trying to "sidestep" their own procedures in dealing with her and of wanting to "have their cake and eat it".
Mr Henderson told the hearing: "My client was not treated like any other claimant was entitled to be when she left the Big Brother house.
"There was no letter from the Home Office. The Home Office had contacted the Big Brother producers or visited the house.
"It was contrary to their policy and contrary to the way they treat other claimants.
"We have a strong appeal in relation to the Secretary of State`s failure to following procedure in relation to my client."
Makosi also fears mobs will single her out because one of her former lovers is a relative of President Mugabe.
Jenni Richards, for the Home Office, told the hearing that the Home Office did not routinely monitor the sexual relationships of Mugabe`s relatives.
The hearing was adjourned to November 17 when the Home Office is set to contest the allegations.
After the hearing Makosi said: "I was absolutely ready to give my evidence today.
"I love living here and am happy to wait for my day in court for justice to be done."
