| Ambassador of the United States to Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Incumbent Elanie M. French Chargé d’Affaires ad interim since August 19, 2022 | |
| Nominator | The President of the United States |
| Inaugural holder | Robert V. Keeley as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
| Formation | May 23, 1980 |
| Website | U.S. Embassy - Harare |
The first United States ambassador to Zimbabwe was appointed on May 23, 1980, after the Republic of Zimbabwe replaced the previous white-minority government of Rhodesia, and its successor Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (1979–1980).
The Republic of Zimbabwe came into being on April 18, 1980. The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Harare was established on April 18, 1980—independence day for Zimbabwe. Jeffrey Davidow was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Robert V. Keeley, was appointed one month later on May 23, 1980.
The current U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Zimbabwe is Elanie M. French,[1] who is an American diplomat.
Ambassadors
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U.S. diplomatic terms |
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Career FSO After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time. Political appointee A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends). Appointed The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office. Presented credentials The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely. Terminated mission Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy. Chargé d'affaires The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. Ad interim Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". |
| Name | Title | Appointed | Presented credentials | Terminated mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert V. Keeley – Career FSO | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | May 23, 1980 | June 19, 1980 | February 20, 1984 | |
| David Charles Miller, Jr. – political appointee | March 30, 1984 | May 31, 1984 | April 17, 1986 | ||
| James Wilson Rawlings – Political appointee | October 16, 1986 | November 27, 1986 | March 30, 1989 | Edward F. Fugit served as chargé d'affaires ad interim, March 1989-April 1990. | |
| J. Steven Rhodes – Political appointee | March 8, 1990 | April 5, 1990 | August 6, 1990 | ||
| Edward G. Lanpher – Career FSO | October 25, 1991 | November 20, 1991 | January 12, 1995 | ||
| Johnnie Carson – Career FSO | March 4, 1995 | April 20, 1995 | July 25, 1997 | ||
| Tom McDonald – Political appointee | November 4, 1997 | December 11, 1997 | December 15, 2000 | ||
| Joseph Gerard Sullivan – Career FSO | August 7, 2001 | October 18, 2001 | August 26, 2004 | ||
| Christopher W. Dell – Career FSO | August 11, 2004 | September 2, 2004 | July 14, 2007 | ||
| James D. McGee – Career FSO | October 29, 2007 | November 22, 2007 | July 5, 2009[2] | ||
| Charles A. Ray – Career FSO | September 14, 2009 | December 9, 2009 | August 7, 2012 | ||
| David B. Wharton – Career FSO | September 2012 | November 15, 2012 | November 14, 2015 | ||
| Harry K. Thomas, Jr. – Career FSO | December 8, 2015 | February 25, 2016 | March 25, 2018 | ||
| Brian A. Nichols – Career FSO | July 2, 2018 | July 19, 2018 | September 14, 2021 | ||
| Thomas R. Hastings – Career FSO | Chargé d’Affaires ad interim | September 14, 2021 | August 19, 2022 | ||
| Elanie M. French – Career FSO | Chargé d’Affaires ad interim | August 19, 2022 | Incumbent |
See also
References
- ↑ "Thomas R. Hastings Chargé d'Affaires a.i." U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ↑ "James D. McGee - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
External links
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Zimbabwe
- United States Department of State: Zimbabwe
- United States Embassy in Harare
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