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List of ambassadors of Australia to Zimbabwe

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Ambassador of Australia to Zimbabwe
Incumbent
Minoli Perera
since 22 March 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHer Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
Residence1 Green Close, Borrowdale, Harare
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderCharles Mott (Special Representative)
Jeremy Hearder (High Commissioner)
Formation18 April 1980
WebsiteAustralian Embassy Zimbabwe

The ambassador of Australia to Zimbabwe, known from 1980 to 2003 as the high commissioner of Australia to Zimbabwe, is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Zimbabwe. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Minoli Perera since 22 March 2023. The ambassador also holds non-resident accreditation as high commissioner to Zambia and Malawi (since 1991), and as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (since 1998), and the Republic of the Congo (since 2015).[1] Non-resident accreditation has also previously been held for Botswana (1981–2004), Mozambique (1982–2004), Angola (1990–2010), and Namibia (1990–2004).

Posting history

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Main article: Australia–Zimbabwe relations

The first official Australian presence in Zimbabwe dates back to December 1954, when an Office of the Australian Trade Commission was established in Salisbury, the capital of the British Colony of Southern Rhodesia and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, as a response to increasing Australian business interest and activity in the region.[2][3][4][5] The Assistant Trade Commissioner in South Africa, Gordon Knight, was appointed the first Trade Commissioner to the Federation in Salisbury.[6][7] The Trade Commission office remained until its closure in December 1965, following Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence on 11 November 1965.

Following the conclusion of the Lancaster House Agreement that would allow for the independence of Zimbabwe in December 1979, an Australian Liaison Office (headed by career diplomat Charles Mott as the Special Representative[8]) was established in Salisbury on 23 December 1979, to "assist the Ceasefire Monitoring Contingent and election observers with political support and advice, and to serve as a direct point of contact between the Australian Government and the British Authorities in Salisbury."[2] With the formal independence of Zimbabwe and the election of a new government under Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, the Australian Liaison Office was formally upgraded to the status of High Commission from 18 April 1980.[2][9] The first Australian high commissioner to Zimbabwe, Jeremy Hearder, presented his letters of commission to the President of Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana, on 15 May 1980.[10] On 13 August 1981, Hearder was appointed as the non-resident high commissioner to Botswana, taking the post over from the Australian Embassy in South Africa.[11] Hearder also received non-resident accreditation as Australia's first ambassador to Mozambique from 7 June 1982.[12]

Relations between the two countries began to sour when the government in Zimbabwe began its controversial land reform programme, occupying farms owned by members of Zimbabwe's white minority, sometimes by force. Following evidence of violence and intimidation in the 2002 Presidential election, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, alongside South African president, Thabo Mbeki, and the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, led efforts which resulted in Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations in 2002–2003.[13] With the voluntary departure of Zimbabwe from Commonwealth of Nations on 7 December 2003, the High Commission became an Embassy.

Zambia high commission

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The Australian High Commission to Zambia in Lusaka, was opened on 1 August 1980 with the appointment of Michael Potts as the first acting high commissioner. However, from 18 May 1972 until 24 February 1983 the high commissioner resident in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, remained accredited to the country.[14] When the first resident high commissioner in Zambia, Ian James, was appointed in February 1983, responsibility for relations with Malawi, which had been held by the high commissioner to Tanzania since its independence in 1964,[15] was transferred to the new high commission in Lusaka, and he presented credentials as the first high commissioner to Malawi on 1 July 1983.[16][17] On 30 May 1988, the high commissioner Edwin Ride presented his credentials as non-resident ambassador to the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between Angola and Australia.[18] When the high commission was closed for budgetary reasons on 14 June 1991, responsibility for relations with Zambia, alongside non-resident accreditation for Malawi and Angola, was transferred to the High Commission in Harare.[19]

Heads of mission

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# Officeholder Title Other offices Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
– Charles Mott Special Representative 23 December 1979 (1979-12-23) 18 April 1980 (1980-04-18) 117 days [8]
1 Jeremy Hearder High Commissioner AB 18 April 1980 (1980-04-18) 26 February 1984 (1984-02-26) 3 years, 314 days [20]
2 Alan Edwards AB 26 February 1984 (1984-02-26) 15 November 1987 (1987-11-15) 3 years, 262 days [21][22]
3 Philip Peters ABC 15 November 1987 (1987-11-15) 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 2 years, 140 days [23][24]
4 Jonathon Thwaites ABCDEF 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 1 February 1994 (1994-02-01) 3 years, 303 days [25]
5 Kerry Sibraa ABCDEFG 1 February 1994 (1994-02-01) 24 February 1998 (1998-02-24) 4 years, 23 days [26]
6 Denise Fisher ABCDEFG 24 February 1998 (1998-02-24) 2 March 2001 (2001-03-02) 3 years, 6 days [27][28]
7 Jonathan Brown ABCDEFG 2 March 2001 (2001-03-02) 7 December 2003 (2003-12-07) 3 years, 107 days [29]
Ambassador ABCDEFG 7 December 2003 (2003-12-07) 17 June 2004 (2004-06-17)
8 Jon Sheppard DEFG 17 June 2004 (2004-06-17) 8 August 2007 (2007-08-08) 3 years, 52 days [30]
9 John Courtney DEFG 8 August 2007 (2007-08-08) 22 October 2010 (2010-10-22) 3 years, 75 days [31]
10 Matthew Neuhaus DEG 22 October 2010 (2010-10-22) 6 March 2015 (2015-03-06) 4 years, 135 days [32]
11 Suzanne McCourt DEGH 6 March 2015 (2015-03-06) 8 January 2018 (2018-01-08) 2 years, 308 days [33]
12 Bronte Moules DEGH 12 April 2018 (2018-04-12) January 2023 4 years, 283 days [34][35][36][37]
13 Minoli Perera DEGH 22 March 2023 (2023-03-22) Incumbent 1 year, 281 days [38][39]

Resident High Commissioners to Zambia

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For the non-resident-accredited high commissioners to Zambia resident in Tanzania from 1972 to 1983, see Australian High Commissioners to Kenya.
# Officeholder Other offices Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
– Michael Potts (Acting) 1 August 1980 (1980-08-01) 24 February 1983 (1983-02-24) 2 years, 207 days [19]
5 Ian James E 7 January 1983 (1983-01-07) 3 October 1986 (1986-10-03) 3 years, 269 days [40][16]
6 Edwin Ride EF 3 October 1986 (1986-10-03) 29 September 1988 (1988-09-29) 1 year, 362 days [41][42]
7 Helen Ware EF 29 September 1988 (1988-09-29) May 1991 (1991-05) 2 years, 7 months [43]
8 D. L. Holt EF May 1991 (1991-05) 14 June 1991 (1991-06-14) 1 month [19]

Notes

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A.^ Also non-resident High Commissioner to Botswana, 1981–2004.
B.^ Also non-resident Ambassador (1982–1995) and High Commissioner (1995–2004) to Mozambique.
C.^ Also non-resident High Commissioner to Namibia, 1990–2004.
D.^ Also non-resident High Commissioner to Zambia, 1991–present.
E.^ Also non-resident High Commissioner to Malawi, 1983–1991 (Lusaka), 1991–present (Harare).
F.^ Also non-resident Ambassador to Angola, 1988–1991 (Lusaka), 1991–2010 (Harare).
G.^ Also non-resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1998–present.
H.^ Also non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo, 2015–present.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ CA 7782: Australian High Commission, Zimbabwe [Harare], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 January 2016
  2. ^ a b c "Australia-Zimbabwe". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (4): 84–88. April 1980. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Trade posts established". The Advocate. Burnie, Tasmania. 21 September 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 17 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "TRADE WITH SOUTH-EAST ASIA". Cairns Post. Queensland, Australia. 6 November 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 17 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "New Trade Commissioner Posts: Statement by the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture, the Rt. Hon. J. McEwen, 20th September, 1954". Current Notes on International Affairs. 25 (9): 647–648. September 1954. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Reshuffle of Trade Posts". The Age. No. 31, 085. Victoria, Australia. 18 December 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 17 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "G. P. H. Knight". Overseas Trading. 7 (4): 10. 30 December 1954. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Rhodesia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (1): 670–671. December 1979. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Australian representation in Zimbabwe and Zambia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (3): 78. March 1980. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (5): 176. May 1980. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Botswana: Australian High Commissioner". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 52 (8): 418. August 1981. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Australian Ambassador to Mozambique". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 53 (6): 382. June 1982. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  13. ^ Katwala, Sunder; Oliver, Mark (21 March 2002). "Zimbabwe and the Commonwealth". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 43 (5). Department of Foreign Affairs: 263. May 1972. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Independence of Malawi". Current Notes on International Affairs. 35 (7). Department of External Affairs: 52. July 1964. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 54 (7). National Library of Australia (Trove): Department of Foreign Affairs: 376. July 1983. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Australia and Africa". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 53 (11). Department of Foreign Affairs: 663. November 1982. Retrieved 31 October 2022. Our mission in Lusaka has been operating under an Acting High Commissioner, but is soon to be upgraded to a full High Commission. It will then take over responsibility for Malawi. It currently has visiting and reporting responsibilities for Angola and we anticipate it will be responsible for Namibia once that country achieves independence. Our post in Harare has accreditation to Botswana and Mozambique.
  18. ^ "Australia establishes formal diplomatic relations with Angola". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 59 (6). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 257. June 1988. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c CA 7590: Australian High Commission, Zambia [Lusaka], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 January 2016
  20. ^ Fraser, Malcolm (18 April 1980). "Zimbabwe Independence" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015.
  21. ^ "New post for envoy". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 February 1984. p. 5.
  22. ^ Hayden, Bill (26 February 1984). "Diplomatic appointment: Zimbabwe" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  23. ^ Hayden, Bill (15 November 1987). "Diplomatic appointment - Zimbabwe" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  24. ^ "New Ambassador to Turkey named". The Canberra Times. 17 November 1987. p. 3.
  25. ^ Evans, Gareth (4 April 1990). "Diplomatic appointment - Zimbabwe" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  26. ^ Evans, Gareth (1 February 1994). "Diplomatic appointment: Southern Africa" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  27. ^ Downer, Alexander (24 February 1998). "Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Zimbabwe" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  28. ^ Downer, Alexander (24 February 1998). "Diplomatic appointment - High Commissioner to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  29. ^ Downer, Alexander (2 March 2001). "Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  30. ^ Downer, Alexander (17 June 2004). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  31. ^ Downer, Alexander (8 August 2007). "Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  32. ^ Rudd, Kevin (22 October 2010). "Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
  33. ^ Bishop, Julie (6 March 2015). "Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  34. ^ Bishop, Julie (8 January 2018). "Ambassador to Zimbabwe" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018.
  35. ^ Payne, Marise (2019). "Alex Gallacher: Australian Ambassador inquiry (Question No. 1209)". Hansard: Australian Senate. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  36. ^ Machivenyika, Firarai (13 April 2018). "6 envoys present credentials". The Herald. Zimbabwe. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  37. ^ Chingwere, Mukudzei (20 January 2023). "Australia investments in Zim increase". The Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  38. ^ Wong, Penny (20 December 2022). "Ambassador to Zimbabwe". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  39. ^ "Sri Lankan-born Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe presents credentials". Ada Derana. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  40. ^ "Zambia: Resident High Commissioner Appointed". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 54 (1): 48–49. January 1983. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  41. ^ "High Commissioner to Zambia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 57 (10): 968. October 1986. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 58 (1). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 36. January 1987. Retrieved 9 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  43. ^ "High Commissioner to Zambia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 59 (9): 391. September 1988. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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