Victory in orphan bid

A COUPLE will fly to Malawi next month to pick up the orphaned children they have been fighting to bring to the UK.

David and Elizabeth Lee will fly to the southern African nation on July 26 to collect their nephew and niece - Bruno Kajombo, nine, and his 11-year-old sister Stella.

The couple, of Erlanger Road, New Cross Gate, have won an asylum and immigration tribunal held at Croydon which granted the children UK visas.

This will end a battle which began just over a year ago.

Mr Lee, 45, an assistant headteacher at Horn Park Primary School, Alnwick Road, Lee, is overjoyed at the news.

He said: "We are really elated; we will be taking a nice holiday with the children when we get there and then fly them home.

"We were very surprised when we received the good news and also really relieved because we thought we were going to have to go through another step to get them.

"I am so happy for my wife. She was having a lot of trouble and was very distressed while this was going on.

"Thank you to all the readers for all the support and help you have given me throughout this ordeal."

"All I have to say is thank God for British justice."

The children's father died from Aids-related illnesses in 2003.

News Shopper has covered the Lees' campaign to get the children relocated since they were left orphaned by their mother's death.

Their mum Helen, 33 - Mrs Lee's sister - died in a car accident in May last year.

Since then the pair have been staying with relatives in Malawi and the Lees have been providing them with financial support.

Mr Lee applied for visas for the children from the immigration service at the British High Commission in Malawi in May last year.

This would allow them to move to Britain.

However, they were turned down because the authorities argued the children could be cared for by relatives in Malawi.

After reviews of this decision failed, the couple sought help from the Walthamstow branch of the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

They went to an asylum and immigration tribunal in January and were given the news it had succeeded on May 16.

Housewife Mrs Lee, 35, says the tribunal victory has changed her life.

She said: "I was very unwell when we were refused custody of the children.

"Everything seemed surreal, bec- ause I had to face the chance they would not be coming here.

"When I found out the good news I felt much better; extremely happy."

The youngsters will be granted two British visas when the Lees arrive in Africa.

It will be the first time they have seen each other in more than seven months.

They will travel to Britain in August to live with the Lees and their 12-year-old daughter Ekom and start improving their English.

Solicitor Kamla Adiseshiah, who represented the Lees at the tribunal, said: "This was the right decision. It is really fantastic and I am thrilled.

"The embassy is being helpful now. I would like to thank News Shopper for highlighting our case."