Zimbabwe ambassador to Australia seeks
asylum: media
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[December 28, 2013]
By Morag MacKinnon
PERTH, Australia (Reuters) — Zimbabwe's
ambassador to Australia has asked for political asylum just days before
her term ends saying she fears for her safety if she goes home, media
reported on Saturday.
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Jacqueline Zwambila, who is a member of Zimbabwe's opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was appointed to Australia to
renew ties between the countries after a unity government was formed
in Zimbabwe in 2009.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai shared power with veteran leader Robert
Mugabe in the unity government until a July 31 election which Mugabe
won. The opposition rejected the vote as fraudulent but it was
largely endorsed by African observers as free and credible.
"I am not going to be returning to Zimbabwe," Zwambila told
Australia's Fairfax media.
Zwambila said the election had been "stolen" by an "illegitimate"
government and she would not feel safe going home.
Zwambila, who was recalled along with other envoys after Mugabe took
office again, has been accused in Zimbabwe of conduct not befitting
a diplomat, media in Zimbabwe has reported.
Zwambila has voiced fears of detention if she were to return home,
saying she had been threatened with arrest in Zimbabwe after a court
found that she owed some money to a tradesman. She denies the
charge.
Zwambila was not available for comment on Saturday.
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Australia joined the United States and Britain in questioning the
credibility of the July election.
A spokesman for Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said
the government did not confirm or otherwise comment on any
individual applications made to it.
(Reporting by Morag MacKinnon; editing by Robert Birsel)
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