16th August, 2018
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe on Thursday enjoined the U.S. to have a clear grip of the political situation in the country.
State-owned newspaper The Herald reported that Mnangagwa had told reporters after meeting new U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols the previous day that the new envoy, who started his tour of duty in the country in July, should have a proper understanding of what is happening in the country.
Nichols paid a courtesy call on Mnangagwa a few days after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed sanctions on the country.
Nichols urged the Zimbabwean Constitutional Court to remain impartial as it dealt with the challenge on the presidential election result brought before it by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance.
Chamisa is challenging Mnangagwa’s victory over him after the president polled 50.8 percent of the vote to his 44.3 per cent.
Asked what his views were on Trump’s decision to renew the sanctions, Mnangagwa said: “Should I concern myself about what is happening in Washington? Do they concern themselves about us?”
He said the discussions he had held with Nichols were necessary since he was an ambassador who should have the correct appreciation of the current political environment.
“We were able to share his views and my views on the current situation in the country and we are moving forward as a country.
“We would want our people, yourselves to be peaceful, to convey the message of peace, tranquility and unity.
“Only when the country is stable and people are peaceful can development thrive, not when we are throwing stones at each other. That is the message you people must convey,” he said.
Six people died on Aug. 1 after opposition supporters protested in central Harare over perceived delays by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce the results of general elections held two days earlier.