The Zimbabwean authorities criticized American diplomats, who expressed concern over the deteriorating situation with human rights in the country. According to the newspaper, The Herald, the press Secretary of the President George Charamba call of U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr., “the remnant of a terrible era.”
“The US Ambassador thinks he can get us around. Let him go and hang on a banana tree,” said Charamba. He added that the Zimbabwean authorities are waiting for the signal from the new U.S. administration. In addition, the press Secretary recalled that Thomas Jr. for the post of Ambassador has appointed former U.S. President, Barack Obama.
February 6, the U.S. Embassy in Harare issued a statement in which he said about the “continuing deterioration” of the situation with observance of human rights in Zimbabwe. Concern members of the mission, as noted by RIA Novosti, was the arrest of a local pastor Evan Mawarire — initiator of the protest movement in social networks.
In December 2016 it became known that the ruling party ZANU-PF has decided to nominate incumbent President — a 92-year-old Robert Mugabe — for the new term. Presidential elections will be held in 2018.
Mugabe has led the country since 1980. The head of state has repeatedly stated that he is ready to rule until, until you die.
Zimbabwe is among the poorest countries in the world. A country in difficult economic situation, faced with hyperinflation and a huge fiscal deficit. Mugabe is accused of dictatorship and oppression of the opposition.