US ambassador to Zimbabwe moans over CIO tails

United States (US) Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, has reportedly raised concerns with the Zimbabwean government over alleged state surveillance of her activities, signaling a deepening of tensions between Washington and Harare.

Tremont, who succeeded Brian Nichols and took office in July this year, is said to have expressed discomfort with what she described as increased surveillance, including being trailed during her travels. According to a source familiar with the situation, Tremont sent a team of officials to engage with government representatives on the matter, conveying that she was growing weary of the constant monitoring.

"She (Tremont) recently sent a team to government officials to discuss the matter of her security," the source told NewsDay. "They came and presented their case. They said she had grown tired."

However, the US embassy has declined to comment on the specific issue, citing diplomatic protocol that prevents the sharing of details of correspondence between diplomatic missions and host governments.

Lynette Nguluvhe, deputy spokesperson for Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that they had not yet received an official report from the US embassy regarding the surveillance claims. "There is no report of that nature that has come through diplomatic channels," Nguluvhe stated. "We await to hear from the US embassy."

This latest complaint highlights the ongoing strains in diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have been marked by several points of contention over the years. Surveillance allegations against Zimbabwean authorities have previously been linked to the country's counter-intelligence unit, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), as well as military intelligence.

The growing tension between the US and Zimbabwe is not new. Last month, the US embassy in Harare faced criticism from the Zimbabwean government after allegedly paying Google to flood local media websites with messages countering the government's stance on sanctions. The campaign, which coincided with Anti-Sanctions Day on October 25, angered local authorities, who have long pushed for the removal of sanctions imposed by Western nations.

In a strongly worded response, presidential spokesperson George Charamba expressed dissatisfaction with the US ambassador's actions, remarking on social media, "I think this Tremont girl they sent to us does not quite understand the Zimbabwean psyche. She will soon know hake. We don't play when you anger us!"

The US has also accused Zimbabwe of violating human rights and suppressing democratic principles, which it says is part of the country's broader strategy to stifle opposition. Diplomatic relations further soured earlier this year when the US accused local security agents of harassing, detaining, and deporting several of its nationals in Zimbabwe. These individuals, who were in the country as part of a US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission, were reportedly subjected to harassment, including unsafe transportation, prolonged interrogations, and the seizure of personal electronic devices.

Tensions also flared in 2022 when two US Senate Foreign Relations Committee aides were involved in a high-speed chase with suspected security agents in Zimbabwe, while on a diplomatic mission to meet with human rights advocates. The incident led the officials to return to the US embassy, fearing for their safety.

Ambassador Tremont's experience in international diplomacy spans multiple countries, including Sweden, Zambia, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. Before her assignment in Harare, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy in Stockholm and held various political and military roles at US diplomatic missions worldwide.

As diplomatic relations between the two nations remain fraught, these latest developments underscore the growing divide between Zimbabwe and the US, with the tension likely to persist unless there is a shift in policy or engagement strategies.