Christopher Dell
Christopher William Dell is a career United States Foreign Service officer who has served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe since August 12, 2004.
Education
- Master of Arts - Balliol College, Oxford University (1980)
- Bachelor of Arts – Columbia College, Columbia University (1978)
Career Service
- Ambassador to Zimbabwe, 2004-Present
- Ambassador to Angola, 2001-2004
- Chief of Mission, U.S. Office, Pristina, Kosovo, 2000-2001
- Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria, 1997-2000
- Deputy Director, Office of Regional Political Affairs, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1994-1996
- Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique, 1991-1994
- Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for International Security Affairs, 1989-1991
- Executive Assistant to the Special Negotiator for Greek Bases Agreement, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1987-1989
- Desk Officer for Spain and Portugal, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1986-1987
- Staff Assistant, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, 1985-1986
- Political Officer, US Embassy Lisbon, Portugal, 1984-1985
- Vice Consul, US Consulate Oporto, Portugal, 1983-1984
- Vice Consul, US Consulate Matamoras, Mexico, 1981-1983
Posting to Zimbabwe
Dell became US Ambassador to Zimbabwe in August 2004. During his tenure, the government of President Robert Mugabe has carried out Operation Murambatsvina, which has been described by Mugabe as an “urban renewal” programme and by his political opponents as a crackdown on the urban poor. Western governments, including that of the United States, have condemned it.
Relations between the United States and Zimbabwe have deteriorated as a result of both Operation Murambatsvina and the humanitarian situation in the country, which the United States has blamed on official corruption and mismanagement. In addition, the US named Zimbabwe an abuser of human rights in 2004 annual report.[1]
As a result of tense relations, Dell has borne the brunt of the Zimbabwe government’s displeasure. In mid-October 2005, he was detained for entering a restricted area of the Harare Botanical Gardens [2]. A few weeks later, at a public lecture in the city of Mutare, Dell blamed corruption for the food shortages in the country, which the Zimbabwe government blames on foreign sanctions. On November 8, 2005, Dell was summoned to meet President Mugabe and was told to “go to hell.”[3] [4] The following day, the ambassador was recalled to the United States for consultations.[5] He subsequently returned.
Dell publicly condemned the beating of several opposition Movement for Democratic Change leaders and protestors, which occured on March 11 2007, including that of party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
On March 19, acting on orders from President Mugabe, Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi summoned Dell and other western diplomats to his ministry to receive an official warning to stop interfering in the country's internal affairs. When Mumbengegwi refused to allow the diplomats an opportunity to ask questions, Dell walked out, describing the meeting as a "sham" for the benefit of the state media, who were filming the proceedings [6][7]. Dell left Harare the same day for London. The State Department stated that he would return to Zimbabwe soon.[8]