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Brian Chizambire is one of hundreds of Zimbabweans who handed in their CVs at Downing Street on Tuesday 13 January to campaign against a ban on working under UK Government immigration rules.

A Harare woman beaten by Zimbabwean police

The Government says those applying for asylum may not work as it could encourage others to make bogus claims.

Brian argues that most Zimbabwean asylum seekers don't want to claim benefits and that some are having to wait up to eight years to get an answer about applications.

"It was a campaign for the people of Zimbabwe who live here, most of them were denied their asylum cases and they're not allowed to work," says the 25-year-old, who is currently living in Reading while his asylum application is processed.

"Most of them have gone for years without working, they are professionals. Some are of them are lawyers, electricians, teachers.

Brian was born and raised in Harare with his family. After working as a customs clearance officer he applied for a job to teach music to youths in rural areas.

At the interview he was told he would have to join the National Youth Service to get the job.

The NYS is an arm of the ruling Zanu PF party, headed by Robert Mugabe. No one is forced to join the NYS but youth are persuaded to join them.

Its sole purpose is to recruit youths into the army and train them to inflict violence on those who oppose the ruling party.

When Brian decided not to take the role he was threatened with being skinned alive.

Brian sought help from the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change whom he supports. They informed him life was in grave danger and helped him get in touch with a contact in the UK to help him flee the country.

Zimbabwe's riot policemen walk on a Harare street

Brian arrived in Reading on a visitors permit in March 2007 to live with his aunt who is an army medic in Aldershot but lives in Whitley Wood.

"I was running away from Zimbabwe because they wanted me to join the National Youth Service, which is a youth militia which is used to campaign for the ruling party, and the way they campaign is to beat up people," he tells BBC Berkshire.

He never claimed benefits as he always planned to move back to Zimbabwe.

"My intention was to go back to Zimbabwe after the elections in March," he says, " but after the elections, nothing has changed. Now I'm an asylum seeker.

He adds: "I applied for asylum in Croyden at the Home Office because nothing has changed in Zimbabwe.

"I'm still waiting for my interview on the 19th of March with a caseworker so he or she can decide should I stay here or should I go back to Zimbabwe."

But if he is made to return to Zimbabwe, Brian says he won't survive.

"It's a death sentence," he says if his asylum application fails.

"Now I'm an activist for the restoration of human rights in Zimbabwe and we campaign for the rights of the people and I'm always on the website. With the special forces they're always on the look-out for people like me."

While waiting for his application Brian says his life is mundane as he can't go out and work.

A burning stall in Harare, Zimbabwe

"Most of the time I'm at home doing nothing," says Brian.

"What I'd like to do is go to work and pay taxes, but I can't because I'm not allowed to work.

"I play instruments as a musician for maybe an hour or two a day, but most of the time I do nothing."

He has no money of his own and relies on any little handout from his aunt. He has never claimed any benefits although he has started the process of applying for them.

"I feel sad because I want to do something, I was working back in Zimbabwe but I'm not used to staying at home. I'm still young, I want to get experience working."

Brian took part in Tuesday 13 January's demonstration and handed in his CV to PM Gordon Brown's office.

He says: "We are appealing to the Government that at least if they can allow us to go to work or have work placements  we can pay taxes and do more to change things in Zimbabwe.

"That's the support we need."