The U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, has reportedly expressed concerns to the Zimbabwean government regarding what she believes to be surveillance of her movements during her visits across the country.
Tremont, who began her tenure in July 2024, took on the role after a significant period without a permanent U.S. Ambassador in Zimbabwe. Prior to her appointment, Elaine French, the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, had served since August 2022. Tremont’s predecessor, Brian Nichols, held the ambassadorship from 2018 until 2021.
According to an unnamed source quoted by NewsDay, Ambassador Tremont has grown increasingly concerned about being monitored during her travels. The source indicated that she had expressed frustration over the matter, adding that she had sent a team to meet with government representatives to discuss her security concerns. The source explained, “She’s tired of it.”
In response to the issue, the U.S. Embassy refrained from commenting, citing diplomatic protocol, which restricts the release of information about interactions between embassies and host governments.
Lynette Nguluvhe, deputy spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, stated that they had not yet received any formal communication regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba issued a stern remark about Ambassador Tremont, calling her “a girl” and suggesting that she would soon understand how Zimbabwean authorities handle challenges. He posted on X (formerly Twitter): “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 provoke us!”
Earlier in 2024, the U.S. government accused Zimbabwe of harassing and deporting several U.S. nationals, including aid workers. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) claimed that its officials and contractors had been subjected to both verbal and physical harassment by Zimbabwean authorities while working on projects aimed at promoting civic engagement, strengthening democratic institutions, and advancing human rights.
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