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

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.