The ambassador of Zimbabwe has accused the U.S. Agency for International Development of interfering in the country’s democratic processes — calling USAID’s human rights and governance work a “gross violation” of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.
His remarks came just hours after the United States sounded the alarm on Zimbabwe for allegedly intimidating, harassing, and deporting USAID staff and contractors, whom the U.S. Department of State said were “abruptly detained and deported” last month.
“[USAID staff] were asking people questions like, why did the opposition lose after we've given you so much support?” Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika Chifamba told Devex on Friday, referring to Zimbabwe’s national election last August. “This clearly is an attempt at regime change.”
About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
