ZIMBABWE’S ambassador to Australia has been ordered back home, two weeks after she allegedly stripped in front of three male embassy staff in a bizarre protest.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Simbaneduku Mumbengegwi recalled the ambassador for “debriefing”, officials said.
Zanu PF officials have publicly encouraged President Robert Mugabe to terminate the envoy over the alleged protest said to have come as she hit out at aides for leaking the embassy’s website address which had information that was at odds with Zimbabwe government policy on western sanctions imposed on the country.
In comments posted on the website, Zwambila appeared to encourage western countries to lift sanctions against state companies administered by ministers from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party, but not those presided over by Zanu PF officials.
Her position drew fire from Zanu PF officials who said she was trying to “create a government within a government”.
And the ground was laid for action against the envoy when Chris Mutsvangwa, a former ambassador to China and Zanu PF official, declared: "President Mugabe may be forced to recall Ambassador Zwambila.
"He should not let his name and that of the country be tarnished by people who do not understand the meaning of representing a country."
It has emerged that Zwambila originally declined to return to the country until she was given an “ultimatum”, the state-run Herald newspaper reported.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry official said: “She is in the country for debriefing. She was called by Foreign Affairs to explain the allegations being levelled against her.
"Our embassy bought her a flight ticket on Friday and she left for Harare on Saturday but she only arrived yesterday.
"She initially ignored a letter written by Foreign Affairs for four days and only resolved to come home after getting an ultimatum.”
Zwambila has reportedly held talks with Tsvangirai as she waits to learn her fate.