United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe

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Christopher W. Dell, U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe

In the late 19th century the area of southern Africa that is now Zimbabwe was inhabited by Ndebele people (also called Matabele). The land was called Matabeleland. Around that time the British and Boer traders, missionaries, and hunters began arriving in the area.

In 1888 British imperialist Cecil Rhodes obtained mining rights from King Lobengula of the Ndebele. In 1889 Rhodes obtained a Royal Charter for the British South Africa Company, which conquered the Ndebele and their territory. The land was then named Rhodesia in 1895 after Cecil Rhodes. He promoted the colonization of the region and its land, labor, and precious metal and mineral resources. The Ndebele staged unsuccessful revolts against white colonialist encroachment on their native lands in 1896–1897, leading to the death of Lobengula.

In 1911 the territory was divided into Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia became a British protectorate.

In 1923 the Crown abrogated the charter of the British South Africa Company and granted Southern Rhodesia self-governing colony status with its own local parliament. Southern Rhodesia’s white settlements were given the choice of being incorporated into the Union of South Africa or becoming a separate entity within the British Empire. The settlers rejected incorporation, and Southern Rhodesia became a Crown colony in 1923.

In 1953 the two parts of Rhodesia were reunited in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, but the The federation fell apart in 1963 when white minority rule acquiesced and granted independence to Northern Rhodesia as Zambia and Nyasaland as Malawi in 1964. Southern Rhodesia reverted to its status as a crown colony in Britain and was named Rhodesia.

The United Kingdom was prepared to grant independence to Rhodesia, but insisted that the authorities at Salisbury first demonstrate their intention to move toward eventual majority rule. The white Rhodesians refused to give such assurances, and on November 11, 1965, Prime Minister Ian Smith issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom.

The British Government considered the UDI unconstitutional and illegal. On November 12, 1965, the United Nations also determined the Rhodesian Government and UDI to be illegal and called on member states to refrain from assisting or recognizing the Smith regime. The British Government imposed sanctions on Rhodesia and requested other nations to do the same.

Finally in 1979 under the Lancaster House Agreement, the white-minority government agreed to hold free elections and move toward independence. Rhodesia’s legal status as the British colony of Southern Rhodesia was restored, and preparation for free elections and independence were commenced.

Elections were held in March 1980, and Republic of Zimbabwe came into being on April 18, 1980. In addition to changing the name of the country, the new government changed numerous place names in 1982, starting with the capital, Salisbury, which was renamed Harare.

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.

1 Ambassadors
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Ambassadors

Diplomatic Terms

Career FSO: After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSO) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee: A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president; often to reward political friends.

Appointed: The date that the ambassador took the oath of office—also called “commissioning.” This follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador must be later confirmed by the Senate.

Presented Credentials: The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission: Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d’affaires: The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d’affaires.

ad interim: For the time being; in the meantime. See ad interim.

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: Incumbent