Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

The newly appointed U.S Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont said  her country has a good deal to offer to the latter in terms of partnership with the US government and its businesses ahead of China and Russia.

Responding to questions from our State of the Nation Reporter, Tafadzwa Nyikadzino, that sought to establish her views on the growing influence of China and Russia in Zimbabwe,  Tremont  said her country brings  partnerships that are transparent, and in respect of labour rights.

Her sentiments come at a time when Zimbabwe is receiving massive investments from Chinese businesses in  mining,  construction, energy and infrastructure development sectors. Russia is also making a footprint in the country’s agricultural sector. These developments have cemented the positions of the two countries as preferred trading partners for Zimbabwe.

On the other hand, the US and Zimbabwe have frosty relations as the two countries disagree on various political positions. The former accuses the latter of violating its constitution through disregarding human and political rights. The latter accuses the former of interfering in its internal political affairs and processes to try and effect “regime” change.

The acrimonious relations between the two nations drive the US government to conduct developmental programs through NGOs and CSOs, where it has spent over US$3.5 Billion dollars since 1980 to support Zimbabwe’s  humanitarian initiatives.

Ambassador Tremont revealed that, while the U.S would not ask African countries,  including Zimbabwe to choose them over other partners, she believes that the US government and businesses bring better partnerships built on the foundations of accountability, transparency and sustainability.

“You know, in our Sub-Saharan African policy, President Biden says it, Secretary Blinken says it all the time. We don’t ask countries to choose between us and other partners. African countries, and including Zimbabwe will choose their own partners. And in most cases, countries will choose to partner with as many countries as they can.

“That’s what governments do. We all want to cooperate the best that we can. So I don’t buy into this argument that anyone’s trying to make, at least the United States is not trying to make anybody choose between us and anybody else. I think that we have a good deal to offer in terms of partnership with US government and companies, because we offer transparency, accountability, sustainability, labour rights.

We respect rule of law, and I think we have a lot of benefits that can accrue to Zimbabwean people. So my job here is to make sure that people understand what a good partner we can be,” Ambassador Tremont said.

The US Ambassador has been appointed to Zimbabwe this year after her country had spent almost 3 years without a top envoy to represent it. She started off her mission after  meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House this week, where she revealed that both leaders agreed to improve ties.

“When I had my conversation with President Mnangagwa yesterday, we both agreed that we wanted improved ties between the United States. But we also noted that we will not always agree on everything, and I hope to have frank and respectful conversations with him and his government on the things where we agree as well as the things where we don’t agree.

“I didn’t come here to golf. I came here to solve problems, and we can’t do that without real conversations. So I will take, President Mnangagwa at his word that he wants to improve relations, and I’m ready to roll up my
sleeves and make that happen,” she said.