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- The Zimbabwean government summoned a top US diplomat stationed in Harare over what it called "unacceptable" behaviour.
- This comes following the US embassy in Harare's tweet encouraging Zimbabweans to "register to vote and make sure your voice is heard".
- The government said it didn't take the tweet lightly and that "matters could come to a head, including disallowing American observer teams".
The Zimbabwean government summoned a top United States diplomat stationed in Harare over what it called "unacceptable" behaviour in response to a social media post by the latter in regard to upcoming general elections. The elections will be held on 23 August.
In a tweet on Friday, the US embassy in Harare encouraged Zimbabweans to “register to vote and make sure your voice is heard” and "peacefully".
However, the Zimbabwean government took offence to this.
Presidency spokesperson George Charamba said in a tweet that the government didn't take the tweet lightly and that "matters could come to a head, including disallowing American observer teams".
Then on Tuesday afternoon, Zimbabwe's acting secretary for foreign affairs and international trade, Rofina Chikava, summoned the Chargé d’affaires for the US Embassy in Harare, Elaine French.
French is the most senior US official in Harare representing Pamela Tremont who was nominated by President Joe Biden to become the ambassador to Zimbabwe.
According to the ministry spokesperson, Livit Mugejo, during the meeting with French, Chikava had pleaded with the Americans to stay away from posting political messages out of respect for diplomatic etiquette.
"Ambassador Chikava said the conduct by the US Embassy was unacceptable as it deviated from conventional diplomatic norms and values enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961)," he said.
"The ministry also called on the US Embassy to refrain from posting such messages in the spirit of re-engagement between our two countries."
Mugejo said that the social media posts were "bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs".
He added that French had stated that the embassy would "improve its communication in line with expected diplomatic conduct".
During the meeting, they also spoke about Zimbabwe's preparedness for elections ahead of the expected proclamation of a date by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week.
Chikava reiterated that Zimbabwe wanted to hold free, fair, and credible elections.
While the country waits for an election date, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa said the delay was because Zanu-PF was running scared.
"He (Mnangagwa) knows the truth of this matter; the people of Zimbabwe know what they want; there is going to be change in this country," he said.
Zimbabwe will be going to the polls to elect local government officials, parliamentarians, senators and a president in what will be a high-stakes general election.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
