MDC says Zwambila’s decision to seek asylum is personal

The Movement for Democratic Change says the decision by Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to Australia, Jacqueline Zwambila, to seek asylum because she fears for her life if she returns to Zimbabwe is personal.

In a statement a day after news broke out that the former ambassador had applied for asylum in Australia, the MDC said: “The decision made this month by Ambassador Zwambila to seek political asylum after the expiry of her term, is personal after she looked at her personal circumstances and what she went through at the hands of the Zimbabwe government during her tenure……

“The MDC’s position is that the onus to protect citizens including top government officials, like Ambassador Zwambila, lies with the government of the day and it is very worrying that the ZANU-PF government is failing to do so.

“It is the prerogative of the government of the day to give assurances of security to Ambassador Zwambila that her life is not in any form of danger if she is to return to Zimbabwe.”

Zwambila was due to return to Zimbabwe tomorrow after the end of her term.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said Zwambila’s remarks were surprising because all the leaders of the MDC were in Zimbabwe and some were members of Parliament.

“So why does she feel threatened? What is so special about her?” he asked. “We grant security to each and everyone… If she is threatened by anyone she should tell us as we are responsible for security here as central government.”

The MDC’s full statement on Zwambila.
Saturday, December 28, 2013

Ambassador Jacqueline Zwambila was in 2009 deployed to represent the Zimbabwe government in Australia.
The MDC has learnt that sometime in December, the government of the day decided to recall all MDC member ambassadors and not to reassign them.

The decision made this month by Ambassador Zwambila to seek political asylum after the expiry of her term, is personal after she looked at her personal circumstances and what she went through at the hands of the Zimbabwe government during her tenure.

As a party, the MDC will not make any decision in her seeking asylum because we are unable to redress her genuine concerns and fears.

The ill treatment that she received at the hands of the State and State agents while on a national tour of duty as Zimbabwe’s representative to Australia are well documented.

The false allegations of indecorous behaviour were proved to be false in the courts and one of her attackers, Reason Wafawarowa has been ordered by the court to pay damages to her for peddling falsehoods in the media.

After the accusations, the Zimbabwean government also made separate investigations and found the allegations to be unfounded.

The MDC’s position is that the onus to protect citizens including top government officials, like Ambassador Zwambila, lies with the government of the day and it is very worrying that the Zanu PF government is failing to do so. It is the prerogative of the government of the day to give assurances of security to Ambassador Zwambila, that her life is not in any form of danger if she is to return to Zimbabwe.

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