A ZIMBABWEAN lecturer based in Bournemouth has appealed to Christians in Dorset and Zimbabwe to pray for his countrymen following the violent obstruction of opposition members in Harare.

Dr Venancio Tauringana, who sold his flat in Zimbabwe so he could further his education in the UK, moved to Glasgow in 1990 before winning a scholarship to Edinburgh University.

Now a senior lecturer in accountancy and finance at Bournemouth University, he has had to look on as the international news relays pictures of battered Movement for Democratic Change leaders Morgan Tsvingirai and Nelson Chamisa.

As the life expectancy for women reached an all-time low of 34 and more than 20 per cent of the population are said to be living with Aids - a situation exacerbated by hyper-inflation and a lack of political diplomacy on the part of Robert Mugabe - some Zimbabweans believe it is only the financial support trickling in to the country from its foreign exiles that keeps it from collapsing.

Mr Tauringana, who comes from a small village 300km south of Harare, sends money home to his mother and family every month.

He said: "At one point in 1995 my wife and I were going to go back to Zimbabwe because we felt guilty but everyone over there said: No, you must stay because you can help us more from over there.' "My mother said: Thank God for you because there are people dying around us everyday in our village and you are helping to keep us alive.' "We can solve our economic problems with political stability but the last resort left, it seems, to unite Zimbabweans is prayer.

"If people are not even allowed to pray there is something wrong with the country.

"I am surprised that the Archbishop of Canterbury has not spoken out because it involves peaceful people going about their business. This was not a political rally we are talking about.

"There seems to be no consensus internationally on what should be done. In my opinion the opposition and church leaders in Zimbabwe have shown bravery in the face of the injustice.

"This is not a political statement. My concern as a Zimbabwean citizen is about human rights.

"All I can do for my part is to plead with all residents of the beautiful county of Dorset to pray for my Zimbabwe."