By Lloyd Takawira
United States Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee has rubbished allegations that diplomat, Brian Nichols attempted to bribe an anti sanctions group picketing at their embassy.
This comes after Zanu PF aligned anti-sanctions group, Broad Alliance Against Sanctions claimed that US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, attempted to bribe them so they could stop protesting in front of the US Embassy building.
The group has been camping at the US embassy in Westgate, Harare for almost a year now.
Presenting oral evidence in Parliament before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs , Broad Alliance Against Sanctions (BAAS), Tuesday told that in a meeting that took place on December 11, 2019 the Ambassador offered them cars and houses and in return they would stop picketing at the US Embasy but instead they should camp at either Munhumutapa offices, Africa Unity Square, Parliament or State House.
The anti sanctions group spokesperson, Sally Ngoni said, “Ambassador Brian Nichols offered us houses and vehicles of our choice so that we go and demonstrate at Africa Unity Square, Munhumutapa offices, State House or Parliament against the government.
“However, we did not consent to the offer and he told us to protest against our government saying it was the one responsible for the imposition of sanctions.”
However the United States in a Twitter post dismissed the fringe groupings attempted mudslingings which they described as ‘shameful’ defending Ambassador Nichols.
The US took a swipe at government on twitter saying distributing vehicles for political mileage was more of Zimbabwean administration’s style.
“The attempts made in Zimbabwe’s Parliament yesterday to impugn the character of our ambassador are shameful. Unlike members of the Zimbabwean regime, handing out cars and houses for political gain is not how the U.S. does business.”
The committee went further to say that sanctions against Zimbabwe will remain in place as the government was not showing any intention to reform and stop human rights abuses.
“Zimbabwe’s leaders try every trick to divert attention from their failed policies and human rights abuses which are clearly documented in the State Department’s 2019 human rights report. This lack of accountability is why U.S. sanctions must remain.”
The development could ruin attempts at mending relations between Harare and Zimbabwe.
