MEETING ZimbabweÕs President Mugabe as curator of the countryÕs National Botanic Garden in the 1980s, former Farnham resident Malcolm Leppard was optimistic for the countryÕs future.

Now, witnessing its traumatic spiral into political chaos, his initial enthusiasm has been replaced with tension, uncertainty and disappointment in a failure to reach compromise.

Returning on his annual pilgrimage to the UK to visit relatives, the former Heath End School pupil spoke to The Herald, revealing how he has become an Òeconomic prisonerÓ in his adopted land.

During his time there, the country has been violently transformed from its former colonial status into its current troubled independent guise under MugabeÕs leadership.

Mr Leppard, who now owns a landscaping business in Harare, said: ÒI was very pleased to meet Mugabe over 20 years ago because of what he said at the time on reconciliation within the country.

ÒThis went on for a number of years, but like in any developing nation, there is a lot of corruption, which is only to be expected.

ÒMugabe has now become strongly anti-white after his government lost the recent referendum to change the constitution, giving it more control.Ó

In addition to the harsh political regime, he said, the economy has been hard hit due to droughts and white farmers being driven off the land, leading to agricultural underproduction.

Though he does not feel physically threatened himself, Malcolm said he had previously stayed with a farmer who has been killed after refusing to leave his land.

He felt land redistribution to the majority black population was necessary, but the brutal policy the government is now conducting to remove the 4,000 farmers was wrong.

With an economy in freefall, a shortage of essential goods and its rural population facing starvation, these are dark times for Zimbabwe.

Refusing to be intimidated by such conditions, he said a permanent return to the UK was impractical: ÒI have become an economic prisoner as it is too late for me to come back to Britain to work for a pension. In the last five years the value of my assets has dropped by 80 per cent.

ÒI have a British passport, unlike many people out there, so I could come back, but I stay there by choice.Ó

Regarding the countryÕs decline as a Òsad situationÓ, he said it need not be that way as it is rich in resources - gold reserves, precious stones and agriculturally fertile.

Though clearly in a tense situation, Malcolm said residents generally felt safe within the city: ÒIt is safe to walk the streets. The police were as good as any in the world, but are now supporting the government and spending time on the farm issues, which is becoming worrying.Ó

Highlighting other significant problems facing the country, he said: ÒThere are major health problems there as there is no social security. I know so many people who have died from Aids - they go to a clinic and get a prescription, but cannot afford the drugs.Ó

He was keen to stress media coverage of events in Zimbabwe was in his eyes focused on the most violent episodes, and in spite of political instability, its mixed population were not as divided as is widely perceived.

Like many, he believes only MugabeÕs departure will hasten change, but he is prepared to endure the current climate in which he has built his life. He plans to return to Harare in the autumn.