U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela M. Tremont at a media briefing in Harare (Photo Credit: Newsreel Zimbabwe/George Swarei)
By George Swarei
Harare, Zimbabwe — U.S. Ambassador Pamela M. Tremont announced today that the United States will provide $62 million in aid to Zimbabwe to combat the effects of the current drought exacerbated by El Niño. This aid package, which includes $39 million in additional support, aims to address both immediate food insecurity and long-term agricultural resilience.
During a media briefing in Harare, Ambassador Tremont outlined the United States’ ongoing commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s development. She emphasized the importance of building strong, transparent, and democratic institutions to foster economic growth and improve bilateral relations.
“The United States continues to support the people of Zimbabwe and their efforts to build a more just, prosperous, and healthy society,” said Tremont. “We share their goal of building a self-reliant, self-sufficient Zimbabwe.”
Ambassador Tremont highlighted the significant impact of U.S. assistance over the years, noting that the U.S. has provided $5 billion in humanitarian, health, and development aid to Zimbabwe since its independence, with over $1 billion delivered in the past three years alone. This support includes lifesaving HIV treatment for more than 1.2 million Zimbabweans through the PEPFAR program and demining efforts that have made over 3,000 acres of land available for cultivation.
In her first official meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ambassador Tremont discussed enhancing bilateral ties and improving Zimbabwe’s investment climate. She expressed readiness to collaborate on expanding economic opportunities and attracting investors by ensuring regulatory and legal certainty and combating corruption.
“Broad-based economic prosperity is impossible without strong democratic institutions, good public health, and regional security,” Tremont stated. “The United States supports these things because they are critical elements for Zimbabweans to chart their own future.”
Ambassador Tremont, who has over 30 years of experience in the U.S. Foreign Service, reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to partnering with Zimbabwe to address global challenges such as climate change, pandemic response, and conflict.
She thanked the Zimbabwean government, its people, and her colleagues at the U.S. Embassy for their warm welcome and praised the media for its role in promoting transparency and accountability.