APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned a senior US embassy official in Harare to protest at the mission’s alleged interference in Harare’s preparations for general elections set for later this year.
In a statement late Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its acting permanent secretary Rofina Chikava had met with the Charge D’Affaires for the US embassy Elaine French to express concern at the mission’s “election-related social media posts” on May 26.
The offending post for the Zimbabwean authorities was one where the embassy tweeted “Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard”.
“Despite Zimbabwe’s strong commitment towards holding a peaceful, free and fair election, Ambassador Chikava however expressed concern over the mission’s election-related social media posts bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs,” the ministry said.
Chikava is said to have told French that the conduct by the US embassy “deviated from conventional diplomatic norms and values enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
A flyer accompanying the post also called on Zimbabweans to “vote peacefully” in general elections expected in late August.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba had earlier on Tuesday warned that the US could be barred from observing the elections.
JN/APA