Zimbabwe has heightened its diplomatic row with Zambia after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson accused Lusaka of collaborating with the United States to undermine Zimbabwe. This escalation follows Mnangagwa’s recent remarks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he described Zambia as a destabilizing American client state.
Mnangagwa’s comments, made during a meeting in St. Petersburg, were publicly released by the Russian government. In the video, Mnangagwa claimed Zambia’s security sector is heavily funded by the U.S., posing a threat to Zimbabwe.
Zambian political activist Joseph Kalimbwe labeled Mnangagwa’s remarks inflammatory, warning they could spark a diplomatic crisis. Zambian Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa confirmed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is engaging with Zimbabwean authorities over the issue.
On social media, Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba accused Zambia of dangerous liaisons with the U.S. Using his pseudonym Dhonzamusoro007, Charamba suggested that Zambia’s ties with the U.S. made it an enemy of Zimbabwe.
“Did we know that SADC has a standing resolution against foreign military influence, including the setting up of foreign bases in the region? And that Africa rejected the setting up of US Africa Command (Africom) on its soil, which is why Africom is based in Stuttgart, Germany?” Charamba posted.
He recounted historical instances where African countries rejected Western military influence, emphasizing the solidarity among African nations against foreign intervention.
In 2022, reports surfaced that the U.S. Africom was establishing an office at the U.S. embassy in Lusaka. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema dismissed these reports, clarifying that it was a normal diplomatic arrangement involving a defense attaché.
Relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe have been strained since Zimbabwe’s elections last year. A Southern African Development Community (SADC) election observer mission, led by Zambian opposition leader Nevers Mumba, produced a critical report on the elections, further souring relations.
Political analysts argue that Mnangagwa’s government is undiplomatically positioning Zimbabwe as a regional security threat. Piers Pigou, head of the Institute of Security Studies’ southern Africa programs, suggested Mnangagwa’s accusations are a deflection from his diplomatic failings.
“In the wake of a diplomatic faux pas by Mnangagwa in Moscow, Zanu PF officials have been noisy on social media, fabricating security threats from thin air. Claims about U.S. military bases in Zambia are fundamentally inaccurate and irresponsible,” Pigou said.
Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), believes Hichilema is confident enough to dismiss the accusations. “Mnangagwa was using this slur to impress President Putin. However, Putin’s Africa strategy is not built upon petty comparisons,” Chan noted.
Chan emphasized that Putin would be looking for substantial alliances and strategic benefits from Zimbabwe, not slurs against neighboring countries. “A stable ally in a stable region is what Putin would want,” he added.
Political analyst Effie Ncube remarked that while relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe have deteriorated over the past three years, they are unlikely to worsen further. “It’s crucial that they address any thorny issues affecting their relationship. We are neighbors with a long history of harmonious, peaceful, and productive relations,” Ncube said.
Source: Newsday
