The first United States ambassador to Zimbabwe was appointed on May 23, 1980, after the Republic of Zimbabwe replaced 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 +ImageNameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesRobert V. Keeley – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 23, 1980June 19, 1980February 20, 1984David Charles Miller, Jr. – political appointee March 30, 1984May 31, 1984April 17, 1986James Wilson Rawlings – Political appointeeOctober 16, 1986November 27, 1986March 30, 1989 Edward F. Fugit served as chargé d'affaires ad interim, March 1989-April 1990.J. Steven Rhodes – Political appointeeMarch 8, 1990April 5, 1990August 6, 1990Edward G. Lanpher – Career FSOOctober 25, 1991November 20, 1991January 12, 1995Johnnie Carson – Career FSOMarch 4, 1995April 20, 1995July 25, 1997Tom McDonald – Political appointeeNovember 4, 1997December 11, 1997December 15, 2000Joseph Gerard Sullivan – Career FSOAugust 7, 2001October 18, 2001August 26, 2004Christopher W. Dell – Career FSOAugust 11, 2004September 2, 2004July 14, 2007James D. McGee – Career FSOOctober 29, 2007November 22, 2007July 5, 2009Charles A. Ray – Career FSOSeptember 14, 2009December 9, 2009August 7, 2012D. Bruce Wharton – Career FSOAugust 3, 2012November 15, 2012November 14, 2015Harry K. Thomas, Jr. – Career FSODecember 8, 2015February 25, 2016March 25, 2018Brian A. Nichols – Career FSOJuly 2, 2018July 19, 2018September 14, 2021Thomas R. Hastings – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires ad interimSeptember 14, 2021August 19, 2022Elanie M. French – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires ad interimAugust 19, 2022July 17, 2024Pamela Tremont – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 2, 2024July 17, 2024Incumbent
See also United States - Zimbabwe relations Foreign relations of Zimbabwe
References
United States Department of State: Background notes on Zimbabwe
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Zimbabwe United States Department of State: Zimbabwe United States Embassy in Harare