A former Zimbabwean diplomat, who made Canberra her home in exile, says she hopes events unfolding in her homeland are the dawn of a new democracy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The military has since denied the staging a coup and Mr Mugabe has defied calls to resign.
The African nation's former ambassador in Canberra, Jacqueline Zwambila, who has been living in Australia under a protection visa since refusing to return to her homeland out of fear for her safety, has watched developments closely.
Ms Zwambila was a political activist with Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, and was appointed ambassador under a power-sharing deal with Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.
Part of the deal saw MDC-aligned diplomats sent to Australia, Germany, Sudan, Nigeria and Senegal.
Ms Zwambila, and a number of other diplomats, were recalled after Mr Mugabe's dubious election win in 2013.
She was labelled treasonous at home after her decision to seek asylum in Australia.
Ms Zwambila – who is MDCT's regional representative for Australasia - said the mood among Zimbabweans had been one of uncertainty and cautious optimism.
"There is no doubt that this is the end of an era. There is a feeling of excitement and jubilation that Mugabe and his clan can no longer treat Zimbabwe as their personal property and that this is the end of Mugabe rule and there is no going back on that.
"But alongside the excitement the mood is one of apprehension because ZanuPF is still in power.
"We are a peaceful nation and no one wants to see a degeneration into civil war."
Ms Zwambila said Zimbabwe had the resources to recover both economically, but also politically and emotionally, post-Mugabe
But she said these steps could only be taken if the country returned to a free and democratic society.
The former diplomat said the country had shown this potential during the power sharing period between 2009-2013.
"… when Zimbabweans put their differences aside the country will heal and prosper.
"We can only hope and pray that sense, peace and inclusion of stakeholders in Zimbabwe will prevail.
"My personal hope for Zimbabwe as it always has been is for a country that is a constitutional democracy where there is independence of the judiciary and other instruments to keep check of excesses of those in power; where all citizens are free to choose their leader and representatives without fear and violence, a country that has equal opportunity for all who live in it whilst recognising the need for specific temporary measures to address the inequitable treatment towards sections of our communities such as women and the youth.
"My hopes for Zimbabwe are for a very diverse cultural society that is working for economic growth and prosperity for the nation that will once again regain its position as a global citizen and not the pariah state it is today."
When asked about her part in Zimbabwe's future, Ms Zwambila said she would accept whatever role her party deemed necessary.
"I am a cadre for the party working for a brighter prosperous democratic Zimbabwe and happy with whatever role the MDCT assigns me."
