Editing Foreign relations of Zimbabwe (section)

==Bilateral relations==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal relations began
!Notes
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|{{flag|Angola}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Angola–Zimbabwe relations]]

Angola-Zimbabwe relations have remained cordial since the birth of both states, [[Angola]] in 1975 and [[Zimbabwe]] in 1980, during the [[Cold War]]. While Angola's foreign policy shifted to a pro-U.S. stance based on [[Economy of Angola|substantial economic ties]], under the rule of [[President of Zimbabwe|President]] [[Robert Mugabe]] Zimbabwe's ties with the [[Western world|West]] soured in the late 1990s.

* Angola has an embassy in Harare.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Luanda]].
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|{{flag|Botswana}}||30 May 1983<ref>{{Cite book|title=Le mois en Afrique, Issues 211-216|publisher=Le Mois en Afrique., 1983|page=168}}</ref>
|
Though initially friendly towards Zimbabwe, several disputes between the two countries have soured relations in recent years. Such problems include the fact that [[Botswana]] has seen an influx of refugees from Zimbabwe; the building of a fence along the border,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3201609.stm |title=Botswana-Zimbabwe fence row |work=BBC News |date=2003-09-02 |access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref> and has complained on several occasions of a campaign by [[Media of Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe's state-run media]] against the government of Botswana, where it cites claims of human rights abuses against Zimbabwean's and the claim that Botswana, along with the United Kingdom and other countries were supporting the opposition in Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=6892 |title=Botswana-Zimbabwe |publisher=Africafiles |date=1992-01-14 |access-date=2018-12-29 |archive-date=5 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105043721/http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=6892 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Recently, relations have further been strained when the government of Botswana lodged a protest against the political violence occurring in Zimbabwe and the detention of opposition members in the country, stating it was "uncalled for".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7452326.stm |title=Veterans ready to fight - Mugabe |work=BBC News |date=2008-06-13 |access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7484165.stm "African call for Zimbabwe unity"], BBC, 1 July 2008</ref>

Protesting the outcome of the [[Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008|Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008]], and the 'illegitimate' regime in Zimbabwe, President [[Ian Khama]] boycotted the [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) summit on 16–17 August, which was instead attended by the Botswana Foreign Minister.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h42ADj9bIF4dl_HB1TbJurp0Y3NA "Botswana president criticises Mugabe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520155800/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h42ADj9bIF4dl_HB1TbJurp0Y3NA |date=20 May 2011 }}, ''AFP'', 15 August 2008.</ref>

Relations have further deteriorated between Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia after the latter two countries withdrew from a Memorandum of Understanding, excluding Zimbabwe and signed a new one to undertake the construction of the Kazungula Bridge Project on a bilateral basis. This was done despite a caution from the [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]] (NPAD) to not let politics interfere with the development project.<ref>[http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/3157/2008-08-12.html "Botswana, Zambia exclude Zim from MoU"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814063926/http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/3157/2008-08-12.html |date=14 August 2008 }}, ''The Zimbabwe Guardian'', 12 August 2008.</ref>

In November 2008, Botswana foreign minister Phandu Skelemani stated that all countries bordering Zimbabwe should close their borders with the country, to 'bring down Robert Mugabe's government'.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/26/africa/AF-Zimbabwe-Sanctions.php "Botswana suggests neighbors close borders with Zimbabwe"], ''International Herald Tribune'', 26 November 2008.</ref>

* Botswana has an embassy in Harare.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Gaborone]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Kenya}}||<!--Date started-->
|See [[Kenya–Zimbabwe relations]]

Following the controversial [[Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008|Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008]], [[Kenya]]n Prime Minister [[Raila Odinga]] urged the [[African Union]] to suspend Zimbabwe until "free and fair elections" have taken place.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7481857.stm "Kenya urges AU to suspend Mugabe"], BBC, 30 June 2008</ref> He has also called for the removal of Mugabe.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7764883.stm "Kenya PM calls for Mugabe removal"], ''BBC'', 4 December 2008.</ref>

* Kenya has an embassy in Harare
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Nairobi]].
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|{{flag|Libya}}||<!--Date started-->||
In the past Zimbabwe has enjoyed a close relationship with the government of [[Muammar Gaddafi]] partly due to their shared animosity towards Western governments. During the [[2011 Libyan civil war]] the Mugabe regime indicated that it will not recognise the anti-Gaddafi [[National Transitional Council]]. When the staff of the Libyan embassy defected and joined the NTC after the decisive [[Battle of Tripoli (2011)|Battle of Tripoli]] in August 2011 Harare expelled the embassy, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.<ref name="M&G">{{cite news | url=http://mg.co.za/article/2011-08-30-zim-expels-libya-ambassador-for-recognising-rebels | title=Zim expels Libya ambassador for recognising rebels | newspaper=Mail and Guardian | date=30 August 2011 | access-date=31 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="ZimLibya">{{cite web | url=http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/africa/52122/libyan-envoy-to-zimbabwe-expelled.html | title=Libyan envoy to Zimbabwe expelled for burning flag | publisher=The Zimbabwean | date=26 August 2011 | access-date=31 August 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826131311/http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/africa/52122/libyan-envoy-to-zimbabwe-expelled.html | archive-date=26 August 2011}}</ref>

* Libya has an embassy in Harare.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]].
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|{{flag|Namibia }}||<!--Date started-->
|See [[Namibia–Zimbabwe relations]]

The ruling parties of Namibia (since independence in 1990) and Zimbabwe (since independence in 1980) have been close since pre-independence days, as both were anti-colonial movements against white-minority governments.<ref>[http://www.namibian.com.na/2004/June/national/04473CB0FF.html Zimbabwe heaps praise on Swapo's transition effort] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618100207/http://www.namibian.com.na/2004/June/national/04473CB0FF.html |date=18 June 2004 }} by Tangeni Amupadhi, [[The Namibian]], 3 June 2004</ref>

* Namibia has an embassy in Harare.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Windhoek]].
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|{{flag|South Africa}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[South Africa–Zimbabwe relations]]
* South Africa has an embassy in Harare.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Pretoria]] and a consulate general in [[Johannesburg]].

In recent years, following the political crisis in the country, the ex-president [[Thabo Mbeki]] mediated with the MDC and Zanu PF to form a unity government, and often remained silent on the issues in Zimbabwe, which drew criticism.<ref>[https://nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=429007 "Mbeki urges patience in Zimbabwe"] {{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''The National Post'', 8 April 2008.</ref> Following a [[2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak|cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe]], the ruling ANC in South Africa became impatient and has urged the parties to form a unity government.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120715232329/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE4A64XR20081107 "Zuma says summit must "force" Zimbabwe deal"], ''Reuters'', 7 November 2008.</ref>
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Zambia }}||30 April 1980
|See [[Zambia–Zimbabwe relations]]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 April 1980.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Schwartz, Richard, 1954- |title=Coming to terms : Zimbabwe in the international arena |publisher=London; New York : I.B. Tauris |year=2001 |pages=65}}</ref>

Initially, the two countries had good relations after gaining independence. However, relations have recently been strained as Zambia, like Botswana, has reported similar 'smear campaigns' against the Zambian government by Zimbabwe's state-owned media, claiming it was "hired by Britain to press for a speedy regime change in Harare." The foreign affairs minister, Kabinga Pande, has said it has lodged a protest against Zimbabwe, against the "sustained malicious campaign against Zambia."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/06/05/zambia-protests-against-zimbabwe |title=Zambia protests against Zimbabwe |publisher=Zimbabwemetro.com |access-date=2018-12-29 |archive-date=12 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212154913/http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/06/05/zambia-protests-against-zimbabwe |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the controversial [[Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008|Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008]], Zambian President [[Levy Mwanawasa]] described Mugabe's Zimbabwe as a "regional embarrassment".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2008/zimbabwe/default.stm "Zimbabwe's neighbours"], BBC, June 2008</ref>

*Zambia has an embassy in Harare.
*Zimbabwe has an embassy in [[Lusaka]].
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