US Nationals Deported from Zimbabwe Amidst Spying Allegations
Four United States nationals, contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reportedly entered Zimbabwe without following protocol and conducted covert meetings aimed at influencing Washington’s foreign policy towards the country. The quartet, comprising Brenda Lee Pearson, Norma Kriger, Sarah Logan, and Loretta Bass, employed by the US government affiliate Navanti Group, purportedly disguised their mission as a “democracy and governance assessment” for USAID’s local programs.
However, suspicions arose, leading to their deportation on February 17, as it became evident their true objective was to facilitate regime change in Zimbabwe. The group’s clandestine activities, carried out without notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, raised concerns over violations of the Geneva Convention.
Upon realization that they were being monitored, the US Embassy, representing Navanti Group, informed the Zimbabwean government on February 5, requesting meetings between Pearson and Kriger and various government ministers and commissions, including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).
Despite this, the arrival of Logan and Bass, also part of the covert mission, was concealed. The incident underscores heightened tensions between Zimbabwe and the US, amid accusations of espionage and interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Since their arrival in early February, the team discreetly held meetings with leaders of anti-government civic organizations, journalists, senior opposition figures, and Western diplomats. For instance, on February 8, Logan and Bass met with Danish AID official David Takawira and later engaged with Swedish Embassy Secretary Peeter Kamaan. They also had a dinner meeting with Dr. Frances Lovemore, the director of the Counselling Services Unit, on the same day.
The next day, they met with Mike Davis from the Combined Harare Residents Association, followed by contacting ZIMCODD director John Maketo on February 12. Subsequent meetings included engagements with officials from the British Embassy and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as various directors of Zimbabwean research institutes and media outlets.
On Valentine’s Day, they met with Pearson at the US Embassy and had a meeting with Larry Socha, a State Department public diplomacy officer. Logan and Bass also had dinner with Valery Sviuya, the director of the Legal Resources Foundation, on the same day.
On February 15, the team met with Heart and Soul TV journalist Blessed Mhlanga before being joined by Kriger in their meeting with US political chief Nicole Johnson.
According to Sunday Mail, total, the team had more than 12 engagements. The government has confirmed that the quartet was on a covert political mission. Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr. George Charamba explained that they committed what are known as consular infractions, meaning they entered the country without following the proper procedures defined by Zimbabwean law. According to the Geneva Convention, foreigners entering a country under the guise of embassy personnel must notify the host country prior to arrival.
“As it turned out, the team arrived before any notification of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Zimbabwe.
“Upon realising that their team was being shadowed, the American Embassy sought, retrospectively, to fulfil this consular requirement and then raised a note verbale, or a diplomatic note, only on the 5th of February, 2024,” added Mr Charamba.
“Even then, that particular diplomatic note only disclosed two persons of foreign origin, namely Brenda Lee Pearson and Norma Kriger.”
The diplomatic note, he also said, claimed that the duo was set to be accompanied by a Zimbabwean national, Olivia Gumbo, who is believed to be associated with the Navanti Group.
“Unknown to them, the Government of Zimbabwe knew that, in fact, persons who had entered surreptitiously into the territory of Zimbabwe were in fact four, not two as declared.
“Incidentally, the other undeclared two had been very active on the ground, meeting interest groups, meeting leading opposition members, NGOs and travelling around the country with the express purpose of gathering information, and information of a political nature.”
He stated that the failure of US authorities to adhere to established diplomatic protocol meant that the Navanti team would be deported according to Zimbabwean laws.
“Just the fact of one not timeously indicating the presence on the territory of a sovereign country called Zimbabwe of foreigners is enough offence to get those persons deported, let alone understating the number of persons who have unlawfully entered the State of Zimbabwe, and on that score, there is no politeness to be expected,” he said.
“The State will invoke its rough hands in order to enforce the laws of the land, but to also get that foreign country to respect the sovereignty of that country.
“Let me make it very categorically clear that whilst this is a specific incident, the American government and its agencies are best advised that Zimbabwe is determined, capable and prepared to deport as many unlawful missions from any country, including mighty America, for as long as those countries are prepared to raise such unlawful missions which violate the integrity of Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe, he added, “shall be brutally efficient” and “use the full might of our law” wherever the country’s sovereignty is threatened.
“That message must go out very, very clearly to all countries, including the Americans,” he said.
“The size of the country, the military might of that country, the economic might of that country, the diplomatic might of that country is absolutely inconsequential when it comes to the sovereignty of this country and the need to preserve it.”