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Christopher William Dell is a career United States Foreign Service officer who served as United States Ambassador to the Republic Of Zimbabwe from August 12 , 2004 to July 2007. EDUCATION
CAREER SERVICE
POSTING TO ZIMBABWE Dell became US Ambassador to Zimbabwe in August 2004. During his tenure, the government of President Robert Mugabe has carried out Operation Murambatsvina , which has been described by Mugabe as an “urban renewal” programme and by his political opponents as a crackdown on the urban poor. Western governments, including that of the United States, have condemned it. Relations between the United States and Zimbabwe have deteriorated as a result of both Operation Murambatsvina and the humanitarian situation in the country, which the United States has blamed on official corruption and mismanagement. In addition, the US named Zimbabwe an abuser of human rights in 2004 annual report. {Link without Title} As a result of tense relations, Dell has borne the brunt of the Zimbabwe government’s displeasure. In mid-October 2005, he was detained for entering a restricted area of the Harare Botanical Gardens [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4341154.stm]. A few weeks later, at a public lecture in the city of Mutare, Dell blamed corruption for the food shortages in the country, which the Zimbabwe government blames on foreign sanctions. On November 8, 2005, Dell was summoned to meet President Mugabe and was told to “go to hell.”[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051108/wl_nm/zimbabwe_usa_dc_6] The following day, the ambassador was recalled to the United States for consultations.[http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=13164 He subsequently returned. Dell publicly condemned the beating of several opposition Movement For Democratic Change leaders and protestors, which occurred on March 11 2007, including that of party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai . On March 19, acting on orders from President Mugabe, Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi summoned Dell and other western diplomats to his ministry to receive an official warning to stop interfering in the country's internal affairs. When Mumbengegwi refused to allow the diplomats an opportunity to ask questions, Dell walked out, describing the meeting as a "sham" for the benefit of the state media, who were filming the proceedings {Link without Title} {Link without Title} . Dell left Harare the same day for London. The State Department stated that he would return to Zimbabwe soon. {Link without Title} In mid-July 2007, Dell left his posting in Zimbabwe without bidding Mugabe farewell. According to Zimbabwean state radio, at the time of his departure he was disappointed because Mugabe remained in office. "US envoy leaves Zimbabwe a disappointed man, radio reports" , DPA (Earthtimes.org), July 14, 2007. Dell has been appointed deputy chief of mission in Afghanistan .Augustine Mukaro, "Zimbabwe: New U.S. Ambassador Won't Relent On Zim - Dell" , ''Zimbabwe Independent'' (allAfrica.com), July 6, 2007. REFERENCES |
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