HARARE - Controversial United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, leaves the country on July 5 headed for his new post at the US National Defense University, but not before kicking up a new storm. McGee, who said he was keen for the opportunity of a customary final meeting to bid President Robert Mugabe farewell, declared that the US government would keep persMcGee, who met Vice President Joice Mujuru last week for exit courtesies, said sanctions had affected only the targeted people and it was disingenuous to claim they had hurt the Zimbabwean economy. He blamed Harares failure to pay back arrears on loans amounting to US$1,5 billion from Bretton Woods institutions, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Africa Development Bank (ADB) for the parlous state of the economy.
McGee warned hardliners in Zanu (PF) that they faced the threat of additional personal sanctions for their spirited attempt to derail the fledgling inclusive government.