USA, ZAMBIA TIES INTACT

…State Dept assures that the Trump admin still supports governance and health initiatives

WE remain committed to supporting Zambia on issues such as human rights and good governance, which are critical to improving the lives of its people, the United States Government has said.

Commenting on the perceived souring relationship between Zambia and the US Government following the departure of that country’s Ambassador to Zambia, aniel oote an official at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs said the bilateral relationship between the two countries was sound.

he official said the had remained the largest bilateral donor to Zambia and the single largest donor in the health sector.

“The United States continues to engage with Zambia on a wide range of issues, including human rights and good governance, which are critical to improving the lives of its people. We remain committed to supporting the Zambian people.

“The United States is the largest bilateral donor to Zambia and the single largest donor in the health sector. As with all bilateral partners, we continuously review all levels of foreign assistance the official said.

A plethora of unsubstantiated and unconfirmed reports suggesting that the Zambia-US relationship was at the crossroads emerged last year after Mr. Foote was recalled after the Zambia Government expressed its misgivings over his statement on gay rights, which created a ruckus.

These allegations deepened after another report emerged, suggesting that Zambia’s designate Ambassador to the a arous Kapambwe had been expelled from that country, as a reciprocator diplomatic move by the US.

According to reports, Mr. Kapambwe was scheduled to present his credentials to US President Donald Trump on February 7, 2020 but that he could not as an alleged diplomatic feud between the two countries seemingly deepened.

This was however, clarified by the Foreign Affairs that the ambassador was going through a normal process of accreditation.