Why Zimbabwe is suddenly back on Trump’s radar

Zimbabwe is suddenly attracting renewed attention from Washington, with United States President Donald Trump expected to send a delegation to Harare for talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The potential visit follows a meeting between Mnangagwa and Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.

According to Zimbabwean officials, Stutzman subsequently briefed Trump on his discussions with Mnangagwa, leading to the proposal for a congressional and business delegation to Zimbabwe.

But why is Zimbabwe back on the US radar?

Zimbabwe’s critical minerals

One major factor is Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth.

The country is seeking to position itself as an important player in the global energy transition, particularly through the extraction and local processing of minerals required for modern industries.

Zimbabwe has significant deposits of lithium, platinum-group metals, nickel and chrome, among other minerals.

Zimbabwe has increasingly pushed for investment in local processing rather than simply exporting raw minerals, creating opportunities for foreign companies seeking access to strategic mineral supplies.

This could make Zimbabwe an increasingly important economic partner as countries compete for secure critical-mineral supply chains.

Zimbabwe’s new US trade opening

Trade is another reason for the renewed engagement.

The United States has included Zimbabwe in its fiscal 2027 tariff-rate quota for raw cane sugar, giving the country an allocation of 813 metric tonnes.

The quota allows qualifying sugar imports to enter the US at a lower tariff rate than quantities outside the quota.

The move places Zimbabwe alongside other African countries, including South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi, which also have allocations under the US sugar programme.

While the allocation is relatively small, it provides Zimbabwean producers with an opportunity to access the American market.

Zimbabwe’s long-running sanctions issue

The potential thaw also comes against the background of Zimbabwe’s more than two decades of difficult relations with Washington.

The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA), passed in 2001, has long been a major point of contention between the two countries.

A US bill proposing the repeal of ZDERA has also been introduced, although any change to the legislation would require the US legislative process to run its course.

For Zimbabwe, improved relations with Washington could therefore have implications far beyond diplomacy.

What happens next?

Zimbabwe and US officials have indicated that high-level visits, trade and investment are among the issues being discussed.

If the proposed delegation travels to Harare, attention will turn to whether the engagement produces concrete deals on minerals, agriculture, investment and trade.

For now, the developments suggest that Washington and Harare are exploring a more commercially focused relationship after years of strained ties.