News / Local
Zimbabwe showers rare praises on America
05 Jun 2025 at 15:37hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister Amon Murwira has extended rare and glowing praise to the United States of America, acknowledging its significant humanitarian and investment contributions throughout Zimbabwe's 45 years of independence.
Speaking as guest of honour during early U.S. Independence Day celebrations hosted by the American Embassy in Harare, Murwira lauded Washington's enduring role in advancing Zimbabwe's health, agriculture, and education sectors. He highlighted the U.S.'s contributions as essential to the nation's development, even amid historically strained diplomatic ties.
"We wish to express the gratitude of the government and people of Zimbabwe for the USA's support over the past 45 years," Murwira said. "We are grateful for this support, which has contributed to the progress and development of Zimbabwe."
Murwira reaffirmed Harare's "Zimbabwe is Open for Business" mantra, stating the country was eager to rekindle robust ties with the U.S. and welcomed American investors to explore opportunities within Zimbabwe's economy.
"Zimbabwe is open to fair cooperation… particularly with America," said Murwira. "We invite all potential U.S. investors to come and invest in Zimbabwe."
The minister's conciliatory tone comes as part of renewed efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government to re-engage the West, especially following years of icy relations stemming from human rights abuses and economic sanctions imposed in the early 2000s during Robert Mugabe's rule.
Relations soured following documented cases of political repression, land seizures, and attacks on opposition members and journalists. Though U.S. sanctions remain in place, American aid has continued to flow.
Over the past year, over a million Zimbabweans have received food aid, more than 47,000 farmers have accessed U.S. export markets, and over 500,000 people have benefited from antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Murwira also applauded the U.S. Embassy's participation in the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and commended American businesses that have established operations in the country.
"We would like to assure all foreign companies in Zimbabwe that the Zimbabwean government is willing to assist them to expand their operations," he said.
However, political analysts remain cautious, noting that genuine progress in relations will depend on Zimbabwe's ability to address long-standing governance issues, including arbitrary arrests, press freedom violations, and corruption within state institutions.
The gesture comes barely a month after President Mnangagwa lifted all tariffs on goods imported from the U.S., a move widely seen as an olive branch toward recently re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. Ambassador Pamela Tremont, who is overseeing a period of transition at the embassy with the redeployment of several staff, noted that America will be marking 249 years of independence on July 4, with celebrations already underway in Harare.
Observers view Murwira's remarks as a calculated diplomatic step towards normalizing ties with the West, but acknowledge that lasting change will require sustained political reform from Harare.
Speaking as guest of honour during early U.S. Independence Day celebrations hosted by the American Embassy in Harare, Murwira lauded Washington's enduring role in advancing Zimbabwe's health, agriculture, and education sectors. He highlighted the U.S.'s contributions as essential to the nation's development, even amid historically strained diplomatic ties.
"We wish to express the gratitude of the government and people of Zimbabwe for the USA's support over the past 45 years," Murwira said. "We are grateful for this support, which has contributed to the progress and development of Zimbabwe."
Murwira reaffirmed Harare's "Zimbabwe is Open for Business" mantra, stating the country was eager to rekindle robust ties with the U.S. and welcomed American investors to explore opportunities within Zimbabwe's economy.
"Zimbabwe is open to fair cooperation… particularly with America," said Murwira. "We invite all potential U.S. investors to come and invest in Zimbabwe."
The minister's conciliatory tone comes as part of renewed efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government to re-engage the West, especially following years of icy relations stemming from human rights abuses and economic sanctions imposed in the early 2000s during Robert Mugabe's rule.
Relations soured following documented cases of political repression, land seizures, and attacks on opposition members and journalists. Though U.S. sanctions remain in place, American aid has continued to flow.
Murwira also applauded the U.S. Embassy's participation in the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and commended American businesses that have established operations in the country.
"We would like to assure all foreign companies in Zimbabwe that the Zimbabwean government is willing to assist them to expand their operations," he said.
However, political analysts remain cautious, noting that genuine progress in relations will depend on Zimbabwe's ability to address long-standing governance issues, including arbitrary arrests, press freedom violations, and corruption within state institutions.
The gesture comes barely a month after President Mnangagwa lifted all tariffs on goods imported from the U.S., a move widely seen as an olive branch toward recently re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. Ambassador Pamela Tremont, who is overseeing a period of transition at the embassy with the redeployment of several staff, noted that America will be marking 249 years of independence on July 4, with celebrations already underway in Harare.
Observers view Murwira's remarks as a calculated diplomatic step towards normalizing ties with the West, but acknowledge that lasting change will require sustained political reform from Harare.
Source - NewZimbabwe
