{UAH} POJIM, ANOTHERZIMBA MDC DIPLOMAT , Hebson Makuvise, CLAIMS ASYLUM

Zimbabwe: Makuvise Also Sought Germany Asylum, Claim

29 DECEMBER 2013

ZIMBABWE'S outgoing ambassador to Germany, Hebson Makuvise, has also claimed asylum in the European country, a state-run newspaper reported Monday.

The revelations come after the country's envoy to Australia, Jacqueline Zwambila, sensationally sought asylum in Canberra, claiming her life was in danger if she returned to Zimbabwe.

Both Makuvise and Zwambila, members of the opposition MDC-T party, were due to return home Tuesday after they were recalled from their diplomatic postings.

The two envoys along with Mabel Ngulani (Nigeria), Hilda Mafudze (Sudan) and Trudy Stevenson (Senegal) were seconded to the foreign affairs ministry by the MDCs after the parties joined Zanu PF in a coalition government after the disputed 2008 vote.

Mafudze (of the MDC-T) and Stevenson (of the Welshman Ncube MDC) were not among the 18 ambassadors recalled by President Robert Mugabe in November.

However, according to the Herald newspaper, Makuvise - a close relative of MDC-T leader and former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai - applied for asylum in Germany long before Zwambila.

MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora said he was not aware of the development.

"I have no knowledge about Ambassador Makuvise, but any communication between the party and the ambassadors is confidential," he said.

"The decision to seek asylum is a personal one by a person after assessing their situation. It is up to the Government of the day to give assurance to the ambassadors in question that their safety will be guaranteed."

Regarding Zwambila's claims that her life would be in danger if she returned to Harare, Foreign Affairs secretary Joey Bimha said: "That is false.

"She is trying to justify her stay in Australia beyond December 31 by making false allegations about the Government of Zimbabwe. Government has no issue with Ambassador Zwambila and she was recalled just like any other ambassador.

Home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi also dismissed the envoys security concerns saying leaders of her party were living safely in the country.

Said Mohadi: "Leaders of the MDC- T are here, some of them are members of our Parliament so why does she feel threatened? What is so special about her?"

"If she is threatened by anyone she should tell us as we are responsible for security here as central government."

___________________________________

Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower