United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe

The first United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe was appointed on May 23, 1980, after the Republic of Zimbabwe came into being to replace 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

*Robert V. Keeley – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: May 23, 1980
**Presented credentials: June 19, 1980
**Terminated mission: Left post February 20, 1984
*David Charles Miller, Jr. – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: March 30, 1984
**Presented credentials: May 31, 1984
**Terminated mission: Left post April 17, 1986
*James Wilson Rawlings – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October 16, 1986
**Presented credentials: November 27, 1986
**Terminated mission: Left post March 30, 1989
*Note: Edward F. Fugit served as chargé d’affaires "ad interim", March 1989-April 1990.
*J. Steven Rhodes – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: March 8, 1990
**Presented credentials: April 5, 1990
**Terminated mission: Left post August 6, 1990
*Edward G. Lanpher – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October 25, 1991
**Presented credentials: November 20, 1991
**Terminated mission: Left post January 12, 1995
*Johnnie Carson – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: March 4, 1995
**Presented credentials: April 20, 1995
**Terminated mission: Left post 25 July 1997
*Tom McDonald – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: November 4, 1997
**Presented credentials: December 11, 1997
**Terminated mission: Left post December 15, 2000
*Joseph Gerard Sullivan – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: August 7, 2001
**Presented credentials: October 18, 2001
**Terminated mission: ~2004
*Christopher W. Dell – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: August 11, 2004
**Presented credentials: ~2004
**Terminated mission: "July 2007"
*James D. McGee – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October, 2007
**Presented credentials: ~n/a

References

*Zimbabwe
*Rhodesia
*History of Zimbabwe
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/11346.htm United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Zimbabwe]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5479.htm United States Department of State: Background notes on Zimbabwe]
*StateDept

ee also

*Ambassadors from the United States
*Foreign relations of Zimbabwe
*History of Zimbabwe

External links

* [http://harare.usembassy.gov/ United States Embassy in Harare]
* [http://foia.state.gov/MMS/KOH/key_country.asp?ID=Zimbabwe United States Department of State: Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Zimbabwe]