By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The President of Zambia has fired the country’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ms. Mazuba Monze, for misconduct, according to a report by the Zambian Observer.
The President took the decision after the High Commissioner reportedly asked a male staff member to shave her.
The diplomat, who was serving at the Zambian Mission in Pretoria had reportedly made an uncommon request, and an undiplomatic directive.
Apparently, the High Commissioner requested a Zambian staff member to shave her private parts.
The staff member refused, stating that it was not part of his duties to shave ambassadors, especially their private parts
The High Commissioner reportedly termed this act as disobedience and an act of insubordination and proceeded to fire the staff member.
The matter went quiet for a while until he appealed against the decision and brought the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
When the allegation about the strange request by Ms Monze was verified, President Hakainde Hichilema promptly fired the High Commissioner.
Meanwhile, other reports suggest that the allegation against Ms Monze was exaggerated.
The Maravi Post reports that a concerned Zambian living in South Africa has come forward, claiming that the allegations against Ms. Monze may have been exaggerated or fabricated by her detractors.