At least four Zimbabwean embassies abroad have been taken to court in their accredited foreign countries for failing to pay rentals as Treasury battles a $7 million debt over accommodation for its diplomats in 45 missions, legislators heard yesterday.
Foreign Affairs secretary, Ambassador Joey Bimha said Government has since slashed allowances for its diplomats while some ambassadors have since abandoned their official residences for rented accommodation because they were no longer habitable while others left as part of measures to contain arrears over rentals that continued to escalate.
Giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Makonde MP Kindness Paradza, Bimha said,
As we talk, we have four embassies that have been taken to court. We have had our diplomatic immunity revoked and taken to court.
Although he could not immediately give a figure, some of the embassies being sued were in Hong Kong, London and New York and another one that he could not readily remember.
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