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Australia Ms Jacqueline Zwambila requesting an explanation following reports that she attended the reunion of former Rhodesian forces there.
The annual event honours former Rhodesian soldiers.
The event was held alongside Australian New Zealand Army Corps celebrations to honour war veterans who participated in wars fought by the two countries, including the First and Second World Wars.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday said: “Government has requested the ambassador (Zwambila) to make a formal statement explaining what transpired.”
An ambassador is appointed and posted by the sitting Head of State to represent the interests of the country in a foreign land.
Diplomatic sources said Ambassador Zwambila’s report was supposed to be handed over to President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“The President is the appointing authority and everyone stands guided by the position he takes on the matter,” said the diplomat.
Reports from Canberra say Ambassador Zwambila attended the former Rhodesian soldiers’ reunion in Capitol Hill three months ago.
Some observers say an envoy attends all meetings in his or her official capacity, not on a personal basis as she/he enjoys diplomatic immunity every time while serving in a foreign country.
An organiser of the event and former Rhodesian Forces, Brigadier Digger Essex Clark, applauded the presence of Ms Zwambila at the function.
Writing to his colleagues after the event, Brig Clark in his letter said: “I also think that the spirited welcome given to us by an excited Ndebele Zimbabwe Ambassador (Ms Zwambila) and supporter of Morgan Tsvangirai as you came off the bleachers was the icing on the cake for us all.”
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Zwambila attends ex-Rhodies’ reunion
He added; “Directly after the parade, the Zimbabwe Ambassador, Jacqueline Zwambila, came up to us asking to meet. We had a great chat and a few pics.
“I am surprised Australia permits them to have reps here considering the way Bob (President Mugabe) treats this country and his track record. Anyway, she seems to be the opposition party.”
Zanu-PF has since expressed disgust over Ambassador Zwambila’s conduct, with its spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo saying the envoy appeared not to understand the values of the independence war.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said it was commendable that the ministry had decided to seek information from Ms Zwambila.
“If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written to Ms Zwambila seeking an explanation, to us that gives the ambassador an opportunity to answer for herself.”
Mr Mwonzora, however, defended Ms Zwambila for attending the event.
“Our understanding from the explanation we got is that this was a recognised public event in Australia.
“It is a day for the commemoration of the heroes, both living and the dead, who participated in the First and Second Wars.
“It’s a national holiday in Australia where diplomats across the world are invited to attend. As far as we know, she is not the first ambassador to attend the event. Ambassadors from Zanu-PF have attended before. It means therefore those holidays in relation to honour the heroes of the First and Second World War have to be attended. The defeat of (the late Germany leader Adolf) Hitler represents the death of one of the worst dictators in human history . . . the defeat of a person who initiated the most horrific holocaust.
“If I was the Zimbabwe ambassador, I would have attended that event. It’s celebrating the defeat of evil. This is the event that she attended. If the ambassador attended another event, of that we are not aware,” he said.
Online Reporter