Ambassador Tremont: 250 Years, County Fair Values Mirror Zimbabwe Ubuntu

By Ross Moyo

The U.S. Embassy in Harare turned its 250th Independence Day celebration into a “county fair” Thursday, drawing Zimbabwean officials, diplomats, and 33 American companies to mark the semi-quincentennial of U.S. independence.

Guest of Honor Minister Anxious Masuka joined Ambassador Tremont as the Embassy recreated the small-town fair atmosphere: games, live music by Yambutso and the Band, American food, and exhibits from U.S. brands.

“Here we are, 250 years later, still imperfect, still striving, but still believing in that same idea,” Tremont said, referring to the founders’ belief that ordinary people can govern themselves and freedom should belong to everyone.

The Ambassador drew parallels between American county fairs and Zimbabwean gatherings like ZITF and the Agricultural Show. Both celebrate prize livestock, best produce, and community pride judged on merit, not connections — “democratic with a small d,” she said.

Tech was woven into the narrative. Tremont noted America’s 250-year arc from the Boston Tea Party to putting humans on the moon and creating “the communications technology in your pocket” — a nod to smartphones, satellites, and cloud networks now used daily in Harare.

She pointed to John Deere-Waterloo tractors, with one model displayed that first arrived in then-Rhodesia in 1896. The link underscored 130 years of shared agricultural innovation, now scaling into precision farming, GPS-guided equipment and data-driven agronomy.

Food and music became diplomacy tools. “If there’s one thing we excel at, it’s taking food from everywhere and making it our own,” Tremont said, comparing American BBQ debates to Zimbabwe’s braai culture. She said music like jazz, blues, hip-hop and Afrojazz all come from blending cultures through struggle and joy.

The event highlighted U.S.-Zimbabwe economic engagement. Tremont said both countries value innovation and entrepreneurship — “seeing a problem and creating a solution.” She pushed for more American companies investing in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean firms accessing U.S. markets and global supply chains.

Human capital was her closing argument. “Our greatest resource is our people. Human capital — educated, skilled, determined people — that’s what drives prosperity in America, and that’s what will drive prosperity here,” she said, tying it to Zimbabwe’s young tech and agri talent.

She framed the friendship through ubuntu: “I think the term ubuntu describes the county fair vibe perfectly. Zimbabweans show every day that this spirit of community strength represents values that cross borders and oceans.”

Tremont closed with a toast to the next 250 years: “It’s about the belief that tomorrow can be better than today… We look forward to seeing what the next 250 years brings to the U.S. and to Zimbabwe.”