US Embassy Says Sanctions Will Stay
The newly appointed US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Harry K. Thomas Jr., has said that the United States will keep their current sanctions on Zimbabwe in place until President Robert Mugabe and his government respect and follow their own laws.
After meeting with President Robert Mugabe earlier this week, Thomas allegedly told the President and his ministers that Washington was willing to re-evaluate relations to Zimbabwe and that the US was keen to improve political relations between the two countries.
This would happen, however, only once Zimbabwe and its ruling party decide to abide by their own laws.
“…The United States shares the desires of the people of Zimbabwe, who want to see a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Zimbabwe that provides for its people and contributes to regional stability,” Thomas said.
He continued saying that the US still stands with the promise they made to the people of Zimbabwe in the 80’s:
“…We stand by the commitments that we made to the people of Zimbabwe at independence in 1980; to work together to promote democratic institutions, equitable economic growth, public health, and food security,” he said.
Political and trade relations between the US and Zimbabwe went downhill fast in 2002, after Mugabe implemented the land redistribution programme which drove out white commercial farmers.
These land redistributions were violent and further helped deteriorate relations between Zimbabwe and the US – among other Western countries.
Thomas also continued saying that the US and more specifically the US embassy in Zimbabwe will continue to work to promote investment in the country:
“…My Embassy will continue to work to promote business linkages, encourage American investors to look closely at Zimbabwe’s educated labour force and long-term growth potential…The New Embassy Campus is another tangible expression of the United States’ commitment to our relationship with Zimbabwe…The work that has begun on the construction of our New Embassy Campus is projected to create more than 850 job opportunities for local Zimbabwean workers and inject more than $30 million dollars into the local economy,” Thomas concluded.
