The Zimbabwe government has summoned United States of America’s Ambassador, Brian Nichols, over a travel ban imposed on the country’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Lt General (Rtd) Anselem Sanyatwe. FULL TEXT:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs a. International Trade on 2 August 2019 summoned the Ambassador of the United States of America to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Brian Nichols. He met the Secretary for Foreign Affairs a. International Trade, Ambassador James Manzou.

The purpose of the summons was to express the displeasure of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe over the public designation of His Excellency Lieutenant General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, current Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-designate to the United Republic of Tanzania, and former Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Presidential Guard Brigade, by the US Secretary of State. Michael Pompeo, under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (Div.E,P.L.116.6), allegedly for gross violations of human rights relating to the August 1, 2018 post-election incident.

The decision by Washington is regrettable as it comes at a time that Government is intensifying the implementation of political and economic reforms including the Motlanthe Commission’s Report recommendations. This runs counter to the spirit a. substance of re-engagement. These sovereign processes must be allowed to conclude.

That notwithstanding. the Government of Zimbabwe will continue with its Reform Agenda and its efforts on engagement and re-engagement, in pursuit of the national vision of making Zimbabwe an Upper Middle Income Country by 2030.