News / National
'Zimbabwe sanctions lifting conditional,' says US envoy
03 Nov 2015 at 15:42hrs | Views
Outgoing United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bruce Wharton has insisted the removal of sanctions will depend on certain conditions.
Wharton was speaking after bidding farewell to Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko at the Munhumutapa offices in Harare.
Ambassador Wharton has been in Zimbabwe for the last 3 years.
During his tenure, the United States gave a US$200 million government backed guarantee to local banks and some humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe's health sector.
Zimbabwe has, however, not received any development assistance from the US government since the enactment of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, (ZIDERA) in December 2001.
ZIDERA is the piece of legislation that empowered Washington to impose sanctions against Harare for embarking on the land reform programme.
After bidding farewell to Vice President Mphoko, Mr Wharton insisted the sanctions can only be lifted if some conditions are met.
The US together with the European Union had promised to start channelling funds direct to government at the formation of the inclusive government.
Although the EU has started doing so, the US has not yet honoured its promise.
Mr Wharton returns to Washington in a few weeks time to take up a post in the state department.
He will be succeeded in Zimbabwe by Mr Harry Thomas who was ambassador to Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Wharton was speaking after bidding farewell to Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko at the Munhumutapa offices in Harare.
Ambassador Wharton has been in Zimbabwe for the last 3 years.
During his tenure, the United States gave a US$200 million government backed guarantee to local banks and some humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe's health sector.
Zimbabwe has, however, not received any development assistance from the US government since the enactment of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, (ZIDERA) in December 2001.
After bidding farewell to Vice President Mphoko, Mr Wharton insisted the sanctions can only be lifted if some conditions are met.
The US together with the European Union had promised to start channelling funds direct to government at the formation of the inclusive government.
Although the EU has started doing so, the US has not yet honoured its promise.
Mr Wharton returns to Washington in a few weeks time to take up a post in the state department.
He will be succeeded in Zimbabwe by Mr Harry Thomas who was ambassador to Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Source - zbc
