US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sent a message of congratulations to the people of Zimbabwe on their Independence Day.
In his message, Blinken pledged continued support for the people of Zimbabwe and encouraged the country to embrace democracy and respect for human rights.
The US has imposed sanctions on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other officials in his government, citing human rights abuses and corruption.
While Zimbabwe has blamed the sanctions for the country's economic troubles, the US has maintained that corruption and human rights abuses are the root cause of Zimbabwe's problems.
Political expert Dr. Divine Mafa, who founded the Zimbabwe Economic Forum, said that Blinken's message shows that the US is willing to engage with Zimbabwe but wants to see progress towards democracy and human rights.
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