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United States–Zimbabwe relations

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United States – Zimbabwe relations
Map indicating locations of USA and Zimbabwe

United States
Zimbabwe
Diplomatic mission
Zimbabwean Embassy, Washington, D.C.

United States–Zimbabwe relations are bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and the United States.

History of relations

U.S. relations with Rhodesia

United States–Rhodesia relations
Map indicating locations of United States and Rhodesia

United States
Rhodesia

After the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia in November 1965, the United States recalled its Consul General from Salisbury (now Harare), closed the U.S. Information Service (USIS) library, and withdrew its U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and trade promotion officials.[1] After 1965, the small remaining American consular staff continued to operate under authority of exequaturs issued by Queen Elizabeth II.[2] Following declaration of a republic, the United States closed its Consulate General on March 17, 1970.[3]

In 1971, despite Administration opposition, the U.S. Congress passed legislation permitting the United States to import strategic materials, such as chrome, from Rhodesia. The legislation, which took effect on January 1, 1972, was of little real economic benefit to the Rhodesian economy, and the United States continued to support the balance of the sanctions program. After the legislation was repealed in March 1977, the United States once again enforced all sanctions.

The United States supported the United Nations and the United Kingdom consistently in their efforts to influence Rhodesian authorities to accept the principles of majority rule.[4] Beginning in 1976, the United States began to take a more active role in the search for a settlement in cooperation with the British. The Anglo-American proposals of late 1977, aimed at bringing a negotiated end to the dispute, lent the weight of the United States to the search for a peaceful settlement and were a counterpart to the Soviet-Cuban use of military power to increase their influence in southern Africa.[5]

U.S. relations with Zimbabwe

The United States supported British efforts to bring about and implement the settlement signed at Lancaster House on December 21, 1979, and extended official diplomatic recognition to the new government immediately after independence. A resident Embassy was established in Harare on Zimbabwe's Independence Day, April 18, 1980. The first U.S. Ambassador arrived and presented his credentials in June of 1980. United States President Jimmy Carter met with Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe in August 1980.[6] Author Geoff Hill criticized Carter for keeping "quiet as Mugabe nationalized the press, committed genocide against minority tribes and subverted [Zimbabwe's] constitution to make himself the sole source of authority."[5]

At the Zimbabwe conference on reconstruction and development (ZIMCORD) in March 1981, the United States pledged $225-million over a three-year period toward the government's goals of postwar reconstruction, distribution and development of land, and the development of skilled manpower. By the end of FY 1986, the United States had contributed $380-million, the majority in grants, with some loans and loan guarantees.

However, in July 1986, the US Government decided to discontinue future bilateral aid to Zimbabwe as a result of a continuing pattern of uncivil and undiplomatic statements and actions by the Government of Zimbabwe in the United Nations and elsewhere. Aid programs previously agreed upon were not affected by the decision; nor were regional development programs that might benefit Zimbabwe. Full programming was restored in 1988.

USAID assistance to Zimbabwe since 2002 has focused on family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, democracy and governance programs, emergency food aid, and assistance to internally displaced persons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began a direct assistance program in August 2000. CDC's program consists of prevention of HIV transmission, improved care for persons with HIV/AIDS, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of the epidemic, and health-sector infrastructure support.

Since 2000, the United States has taken a leading role in condemning the Zimbabwean Government's increased assault on human rights and the rule of law, and has joined much of the global village in calling for the Government of Zimbabwe to embrace a peaceful democratic evolution. In 2002 and 2003, the United States imposed targeted measures on the Government of Zimbabwe, including financial and visa sanctions against selected individuals, a ban on transfers of defence items and services, and a suspension of non-humanitarian government-to-government assistance. Despite strained political relations, the United States continues as a leading provider of humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, providing about $400-million in humanitarian assistance from 2002 to 2007, most of it food aid.

French President Jacques Chirac angered the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States when in February 2003 he invited President Mugabe to a Franco-African conference on Africa held in France. Mugabe said he felt "at home" in Paris and "President Chirac insisted that we attend. He held firm to his principles. We need leaders of his stature." Chirac later emphasized that he had not kissed Mugabe on his cheeks when the conference began.[7] The UK had previously tried to get the European Union to deny Mugabe the right to come to Europe, citing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.[8]

Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell on November 9, 2005, and expressed his "extreme displeasure" with comments Dell made a few days earlier in Mutare: Dell had said government corruption had led to food shortages. Mugabe replied that Dell could "go to hell."[9] Dell left Zimbabwe for Washington D.C., United States, on November 9 for consultations after meeting with Mumbengegwi.[10]

Mugabe visited Washington informally in September 1980, and on official working visits in September 1983, July 1991 and 1995, meeting with Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton respectively. He has also led a Zimbabwean delegation to the UN on several occasions, most recently in 2006. Vice-President Bush visited Harare in November 1982 on a trip to several African countries.

Prime Minister Tsvangirayi met with President Obama on June 12, 2009 at the White House.[11]

Tsvangirai meets with Obama in the White House in June 2009

After Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe's rival and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe under a power-sharing agreement, the Barack Obama administration extended its congratulations to Tsvangirai, but said that the U.S. would wait for evidence of Mugabe's cooperation with the MDC before it would consider lifting its sanctions.[12] In early March 2009, Obama proclaimed that US sanctions would be protracted provisionally for another year, because Zimbabwe's political crisis is as yet unresolved.[13] He explained in a statement to Congress,

"The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved.

These actions and policies pose a continuing, unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.

For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat.[14]

Principal U.S. officials

  • Ambassador – Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
  • Deputy Chief of Mission—David W. Abel
  • USAID Mission Director—Karen Freeman
  • Political/Economic Chief—Mike Gonzales
  • Public Affairs Officer—Sharon Hudson Dean
  • Defense Attaché—LTC Patrick Andersen

Diplomatic missions

  • U.S. Embassy (Chancery), Harare
  • U.S. Agency for International Development, Harare

See also

US and UK diplomats detained in Zimbabwe

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Background Note: Zimbabwe". U.S. Department of State. October 14, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  2. ^ "Zimbabwe". AllGov. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "U.S. - Zimbabwean Rleations". EBSCO Host Connection. May 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "Majority Rule in Zimbabwe". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Page 85 Nigerian Foreign Policy Under Military Rule 1966-1999 by Olayiwola Abegunrin
  6. ^ Page 380 Notable U.S. Ambassadors Since 1775: A Biographical Dictionary
  7. ^ Page 33 Hating America: The New World Sport
  8. ^ Page 146 Allies: Why the West Had to Remove Saddam
  9. ^ Zimbabwe voices anger at US envoy BBC News
  10. ^ Ambassador leaves Zimbabwe Zwnews
  11. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-President-Obama-and-Prime-Minister-Tsvangirai-of-Zimbabwe-after-meeting-6-12-09/
  12. ^ "Obama congratulates Tsvangirai". NewsToday.co.za. February 13, 2009.
  13. ^ "Obama extends sanctions against Mugabe regime". AFP via France 24. February 3, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "Message from the President on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Zimbabwe". Embassy of the United States in Harare, Zimbabwe. March 2, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.

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