US/Ambassador/Zambia
 US/Ambassador/Zambia  (Ambassador to Zambia) | |
|---|---|
 Frank Wisner II was ambassador from 1979 until 1982. | |
| Start | March 11, 1965 |
| Website | http://zambia.usembassy.gov/ |
| The United States ambassador to Zambia. | |
The US Ambassador to Zambia is the United States' highest diplomatic representative to Zambia.
History
During the 1970s and 80s, successive U.S. governments perceived Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda as their "dependable ally" in their diplomatic manoeuvres in the region.[1]
Relations between the countries were strained during Wisner's term as ambassador 1979-82, when "his greatest single crisis," a spy scandal, was exposed. A CIA officer was revealed as recruiting people in Zambia while he was there. One of the Zambians turned himself into his government and this caused a huge amount of exposure, ending in the expulsion of a number of Americans.[2]
Wisner was part of the "deep structural reform" of the Zambian economy, putting together the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and the donors. Winser argued for substantial changes in the policy approach to provide for a stronger private sector role in the economic management of the country.[2]
Wisner spent a lot of time there with the Rhodesian issue, dealing with Robert Mugabe, as well as Ian Smith who he dealt with personally, and at some length, Ken Flowers, his intelligence chief. Wisner also knew General Walls, the Rhodesian armed forces commander.[2]
