Zimbabwe's envoy to Oz seeks asylum over Mugabe's 'illegitimacy'

The Zimbabwe's envoy to Australia has claimed asylum in the country, calling Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's government "illegitimate."

Jacqueline Zwambila said she fears her safety would be jeopardized, if she returned to Zimbabwe after her term ends on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Zwambila, who is politically aligned to Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, was recalled from her post without being offered another job after Mugabe's Zanu-PF party won the country's general election in July.

Zwambila alleged that Mugabe's party won the elections with fraudulent activities and increased the number of arrests of MDC supporters on trumped-up charges.

According to the report, Zwambila is planning to rely on a bridging visa after her diplomatic status is cancelled with a few family members, who have been with her in Australia, hoping to gain protection under her application.