The United States summoned Zimbabwe’s ambassador on Tuesday, a day after a Zanu PF spokesman accused the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe of “coordinating violence” while calling him a “thug”, a “gangster” and an “Uncle Tom”.

Tibor Nagy, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State in charge of African Affairs, on Tuesday said the comments by acting Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa were “deeply offensive.”

Comments from #ZANUPF – while sadly not surprising – are deeply offensive. We have summoned the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to explain. https://t.co/dWjDEVqZqM

— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) July 28, 2020

Without providing evidence, Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa told reporters on Monday that Nichols was involved in subversive activities to topple Mnangagwa’s regime.

Chinamasa said Nichols was one of a “coterie of gangsters and mercenaries who are disguised as diplomats.”

“He (Nichols) continues to engage in acts of undermining this republic and if he does so, if he continues engaging in acts of mobilising and funding disturbances, coordinating violence and training insurgents, our leadership will not hesitate to give him marching orders,” Chinamasa said.

“Diplomats should not behave like thugs, and Brian Nichols is a thug.”

The U.S. continues to be the strongest international partner of the Zimbabwean people, despite #Zimbabwe's governing party pursuing a policy of name-calling, deflection, and misinformation to justify their current economic and political crisis. Keep up the good work, Amb Nichols. https://t.co/l4sLjKwKZa

— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) July 28, 2020