Wayne Lumbasi
The United States is preparing to deepen engagement with Zimbabwe, with President Donald Trump expected to send a congressional and business delegation to the country as Washington seeks to rebuild relations and expand trade and investment.
The proposed visit follows a meeting between Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and US Congressman Marlin Stutzman on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Zimbabwean ruling party spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said Stutzman later briefed Trump on the discussions, prompting plans for a wider congressional and business delegation to travel to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s Foreign Ministry described the meeting as productive, with discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and encouraging high level engagement between the two countries.
The potential diplomatic opening comes as the United States places greater emphasis on economic and commercial ties with Zimbabwe. US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont said the relationship was expected to move beyond its traditional focus on health and humanitarian assistance toward trade, investment and broader economic cooperation.
Trade between the two countries remains relatively modest but has been growing. US government data estimates that trade in goods and services between the United States and Zimbabwe reached about $510.6 million in 2025, an increase of nearly 20% from the previous year.
Zimbabwe is seeking to attract more American investment into sectors including mining, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, tourism and energy. Its mineral wealth is particularly significant, with the country holding substantial deposits of lithium, platinum group metals, gold, chrome and nickel.
For Zimbabwe, stronger economic ties could provide opportunities to expand exports, attract capital and gain access to new markets. The country has increasingly pushed for greater local processing of its mineral resources, seeking to capture more value before minerals leave Africa.
The United States also has growing interest in critical minerals needed for batteries, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Zimbabwe’s position as a major producer of several strategic minerals could therefore give economic relations a broader significance.
One recent development has been Zimbabwe’s inclusion in a US tariff rate quota for raw sugar, allowing a specified quantity of Zimbabwean sugar to enter the American market without the applicable tariff. The measure provides an early indication of how trade could become part of the emerging relationship.
However, significant issues remain unresolved. US policy toward Zimbabwe has for years been shaped by sanctions and legislation including the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, commonly known as ZDERA. Although proposals have emerged in the US Congress seeking changes to the framework, no repeal should be assumed unless legislation is formally enacted.
Zimbabwe is also not currently eligible for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, limiting the preferential access it receives to the US market compared with eligible African economies.
The expected delegation therefore comes at a significant moment for Zimbabwe. The two countries are increasingly exploring areas where their economic interests could overlap, including minerals, agriculture, market access, infrastructure and private investment.
If the visit proceeds, it could mark a new phase in US Zimbabwe relations, with trade and investment taking a more prominent role alongside longstanding diplomatic and political issues.
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