O’Connell, while holding a media briefing in Harare, said the Donald Trump administration is seeking political and economic reforms in Zimbabwe so as to allow for a better working relationship between the country and Washington D.C.
“The relationship between Zimbabwe government and the United States of America is the main reason why I am here.
“We are looking to the Zimbabwe government or leadership to make political and economic changes so that we can work robustly to improve on the relations between us,” She said.
Advertisement
O’Connell noted that though the working relationship between the U.S and Zimbabwean government has not changed, but that there are changes in terms of budgeting under the President Donald Trump government.
She said the call for economic and socio-political reforms in Zimbabwe comes as the country`s climate continues to deteriorate.
“Yes, we have a new government and relationships have not changed, even though discussions are on-going in terms of budgeting. The US will continue supporting many programmes in Zimbabwe under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),” she said.
“We are also making own judgments at the Congress since it is a new administration but this is nowhere going to have any changes in our relationships especially on programmes funding,” O’Connell added.