Zimbabwe’s parliament has summoned former President Robert Mugabe to give evidence about a claim he made about huge-scale diamond theft.

Mr Mugabe accused foreign mining firms of “swindling” and “smuggling” in an interview on state-run TV in 2016.

“The companies have virtually robbed us of our wealth,” he said, adding that the treasury had seen little of about $15bn (£11bn) they had earned.

It is not clear if the 94-year-old will agree to appear before the committee.

He was forced to resign last December in the wake of a military takeover, and still has the privileges of a former head of state.

Meanwhile, the UK has said it would “strongly support” Zimbabwe’s return to the Commonwealth group of nations, following talks in London between UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his Zimbabwean counterpart Sibusiso Moyo.

Gen Moyo is the man who announced the military takeover in November, which led to Mr Mugabe’s resignation.

Although Mr Johnson said that Zimbabwe still had to ensure that this year’s elections were free and fair, his statement was condemned by opposition politician David Coltart, who said he was “appalled”.

Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in 2003 after it was criticised for human rights abuses under Mr Mugabe. (BBC)