Paul Nyathi
Under fire United States ambassador to Zimbawe Brian Nichols on Friday met with Foreign Affairs Ministers Sibusiso Moyo and came out of the meeting “a changed man” speaking very soft of the Zimbabwean government he has been criticising heavily in recent weeks.
Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa last week accused Brian Nichols of sponsoring violent demonstrations aimed at overthrowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his administration threatening to get him kicked out of the country.
“The US ambassador who I’m told is African American, he must be totally ashamed of himself. He continues to engage in acts of undermining this Republic, mobilising and funding disturbances, coordinating violence and training insurgency.
“Our leadership will not hesitate to give him marching orders. Diplomats should not behave like thugs. Brian Nichols is a thug,” Chinamasa said.
“We remind him that he is not a super diplomat in this country. There are several diplomats that are seconded to this republic from the African Union member countries and the world over. They have never masqueraded and pretended to be our prefects as Mr Nichols is doing,” Chinamasa added.
The attacks came after Nichols told South Africa media that there was a huge human rights crisis in Zimbabwe.
The impasse forced Minister Moyo to summon Nichols to his office where he emerged a different man.
The United States embassy said the discussions were “constructive”.
“Constructive and wide-ranging discussion with Foreign Minister Moyo. I welcomed progress in court cases involving Godfrey Kurauone, Frank Chikowore, Samuel Takawira. Stressed importance of continued efforts to improve respect for human rights,” Nichols tweeted referring to an MDC activist and two journalists who were recently acquitted.
Constructive and wide-ranging discussion with Foreign Minister Moyo. I welcomed progress in court cases involving Godfrey Kurauone, Frank Chikowore, Samuel Takawira. Stressed importance of continued efforts to improve respect for human rights. pic.twitter.com/xmXxb3pLZX
— U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe (@USEmbZim) September 11, 2020
Sources close to the meeting indicated that the Zimbabwean foreign affairs Minister told Nichols to stop being antagonistic towards the government and use diplomatic channels to air any grievances he might have.
Minister Sibusiso Moyo tweeted after meeting Nichols: “We resolved to address our differences diplomatically and not to antagonise each other.”
Moyo described his meeting with Nichols as fruitful.
“We agreed to forge close cooperation between our two countries we have a lot in common that should bring us together than dividing us.”
Using its tweeter handle, the Ministry said the discussions between the two were open and positive.
“They discussed bilateral cooperation in all sectors of the economy and agreed to improve their relations. It was a frank discussion focused on uniting the two countries,” the ministry said.