‘US not Zim’s enemy’

MOSES MATENGA

United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont said Washington is not an enemy to Harare adding her country remains committed to see a prosperous Zimbabwe with its citizens living above the poverty datum line (PDL) and a government that respects human rights while also shunning corruption.

She was speaking to Editors from different media houses in Harare where she also reiterated Washington’s commitment

“Our mission is to support the Zimbabwean people as they chart their way,” she said.

“We have been engaging the whole time. To us that is not a new thing. This Embassy is a testament of our engagement with Zimbabwe since independence. People like to say Zimbabwe is a friend to all and enemy to none and my response to that is we never thought we were an enemy,” she said.

The US Ambassador said the Zimbabwean government should always emphasize on transparency, anti-corruption and respect for human rights in order to pass the democracy test and make lives better for millions of people.

On her observations during visits to different parts of the country, she said she was concerned with the levels of poverty in some parts.

“We are concerned about many things including the number of people who are living below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) and this is concerning for us and there is need to work on an economic improving agenda.”

She said there remain need for a functional formal sector that will provide jobs to millions of jobless Zimbabweans.

On sanctions, Tremont said: “To be clear on what it is all about, it only prevents the 11 from having bank accounts in the United States and that can’t be holding Zimbabwe back.”

In March, US President Joe Biden terminated the Zimbabwe sanctions programme but the country’s Treasury imposed fresh measures under the Global Magnitsky Act of 2016 tightening sanctions on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei and eight others they allege were involved in human rights violations and corruption.

She said banks in the US have raised questions on potential investments in Zimbabwe and expressed their concerns on impediments to investments in the country.

 “We have been talking to banks to have a relook on Zimbabwe and in their analysis, they don’t mention sanctions. They mention corruption and money laundering including in different sectors like mining.

“It has nothing to do with sanctions but more on the cost of doing business here. We have been talking to banks and encouraging them to come to Zimbabwe but they should have a business sense to invest in the country.”

Speaking on the currency situation in Zimbabwe, the US Ambassador said the people deserved stability in that area.

“The country has been really hard on the Zimbabwean people. I hear in 2008, people lost their savings and it has been difficult for the people of Zimbabwe to plan where there is uncertainty.”

“The Zimbabwean people deserve a bit of stability in that area.”

She said the United States is involved in several projects that directly benefit the people of Zimbabwe including in the health sector.