"It’s No Secret We've A Problematic Relationship With Zimbabwe," US Envoy

Tibor P. Nagy, the United States of America’s Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, has said that Zimbabwe and the USA have a problematic relationship as a result of human rights abuse by Zimbabwe.

Speaking during a telephonic post-United Nations General Assembly question and answer briefing with journalists from around the continent on Wednesday, Nagy said that he loves Zimbabwe. He added:

Unfortunately, it’s no secret, we have a problematic relationship with Zimbabwe. There’s the ZIDERA Act which restricts to a certain extent what the United States can and cannot do.

He, however, dismissed as “a very false narrative” allegations, particularly by the ruling ZANU PF and SADC countries, that the USA imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe as a country. Nagy added that the USA only imposed sanctions “against certain individuals and certain corporations.”

He also said that the only major issue creating the gap between the USA and Zimbabwe is that the latter has a reputation of abusing its citizens resulting in a shrinking democratic and governance space.

More: Zim Live; USA Department of State