ex-Ambassador Zwambila thrilled with court victory

Zimbabwe's ex-ambassador to Australia Jacqueline Zwambila has expressed delight over her $133 000 court victory against Reason Wafawarova who reported that she stripped in front of embassy staff.

Australia's Supreme Court on Friday ordered Wafawarova to pay Zwambila $118 000 in general damages and $14 847 in aggravated damages after he falsely claimed she had lost her temper and stripped to her underwear in front of three embassy officials.

Zwambila, whose term as ambassador ended in December 2013 and is now seeking asylum in Australia.

According to reports, she said the judgment was "a victory for all women politicians in Zimbabwe victimised with impunity by ruling party perpetrators with the sole purpose of denigrating the dignity of women in a country where there is no regard for the rule of law and no regard for the consequences."

"It was never about the money but about the principle of the matter when something is wrong it is wrong," Zwambila claimed.

"The fact that I could only find recourse in Australian courts and not my own country tells you that something is seriously wrong.

"This victory is for all of us women in opposition politics."