Senior U.S officials to visit Zimbabwe next week

Two senior United States (U.S.) State Department officials are set to visit Zimbabwe next week to consult with the government, the opposition and civil society groups on issues including human rights, democracy and governance.

A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe on Thursday said Shannon Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs and Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human rights and Labor will visit Zimbabwe from May 12 to 16.

"The visit will enable the officials to hear first hand from representatives of government, representatives of opposition political parties and civil society organizations about issues including human rights, democracy and governance since the adoption of the Zimbabwe's constitution in May 2013," said the statement.

Despite having maintained economic sanctions on Zimbabwe for over a decade, the U.S. remains one of the major providers of humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe covering areas such as health and food security.