I WAS deeply moved by your report on the suffering of Gerry and Sandra De Klerk in this week’s issue, so much so that I was not able to finish reading it.

Mr DeKlerk is one immigrant who we must allow into Britain.

My wife and I lived in that country, thenwhich was of course Rhodesia, from late 1972 to early 1977.

During that time, we felt no threat in the big cities such as Salisbury where we lived, although there was some danger in the rural areas, and I was conscripted to serve for eight weeks in the security services.

When we returned to this country, I heard such a lot of clap-trap from people who had no experience of life there, including BBC reporters, that I gave up talking about it.

Since we left, a great deal has changed. I recommend a book called The Fear by Peter Godwin.

This is a very depressing account of what has happened in a once green and pleasant land but one bright spot is that, despite imprisonment, beatings, and torture, there are those who are still ready to stand up against Mugabe and his thugs.

Democratic government may come, but many people will be murdered before it arrives. Let us at least ensure that the De Klerks are not among them.

Clive Blackmore

Stroud