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List of ambassadors of the United States to Zimbabwe

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Ambassador of the United States to Zimbabwe
Seal of the United States Department of State
since July 17, 2024
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holderRobert V. Keeley
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationMay 23, 1980
WebsiteU.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.


Ambassadors

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U.S. diplomatic terms

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[1]
Charles A. Ray – Career FSO September 14, 2009 December 9, 2009 August 7, 2012
D. Bruce Wharton – Career FSO August 3, 2012[2] 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 July 17, 2024
Pamela Tremont – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 2, 2024 July 17, 2024 Incumbent

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "James D. McGee - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
  2. ^ https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/wharton-david-bruce [bare URL]
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