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U.S. Ambassador designate Bruce Wharton upbeat about return to Zimbabwe
US Embassy
September 28, 2012

United States Ambassador Designate to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, says he is excited about the prospect of returning to Zimbabwe and looks forward to meeting, learning about and working with all sectors of Zimbabwean society.

"My family lived, worked and learned in Zimbabwe a decade ago and returning will be a new stage in our lives," said Wharton in a recorded message released by the U.S Embassy on Friday (See: http://soundcloud.com/zimpas/us-embassy-amb-wharton-long). "We are excited about this opportunity to work with all of you again. I will need your help to know Zimbabwe of today. Americans and Zimbabweans have so much in common, family, faith hard work and love of the land which sustains our shared agricultural roots."

Wharton, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, was previously Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State. He joined the Bureau of African Affairs in 2009 as Director of the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, after a two-year assignment as Deputy Coordinator of the Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs.

The message from Wharton represents a new trend in diplomacy which has seen diplomats use new media tools to reach out to audiences. Previous U.S. Ambassador Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, was active on Facebook, while many U.S. ambassadors such as those in Thailand, Libya and India have engaged local populations via YouTube and other social media sites.

"Americans and Zimbabweans share a hunger for knowledge," said Wharton. "The Library of Congress is the world's greatest library, the most complete collection of what human beings know. It is available in Washington and online around the world for anyone who needs it. This freedom to organize and share information is essential to progress."
A member of the Foreign Service since 1985, Mr. Wharton's additional overseas assignments include posts in Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and South Africa.

"Many Americans have roots in Africa, and many Americans have an appreciation of African history, culture, and art on our society. I grew up in a home filled with African art, so the National Museum of African Art is one of my favorite places in Washington," said Wharton.

Ambassador Wharton was sworn in on September 10th and is expected in the country next week. "If confirmed," Wharton told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, "I will work to enable Zimbabwe to become a just, prosperous and democratic state that meets the needs of its people, contributes to development in the region, and plays an important role in world affairs." In his message, he cites justice as one of the most important pillars to achieve this.

"We all deserve it and we all need strong institutions to defend and administer it," said Wharton. "Nations prosper when all people are equal before the law. Zimbabweans and Americans have both fought for justice, know how important it is and know that it requires constant nurturing."

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