Zimbabwe hires US lobby firm

The Zimbabwean Government has hired a lobby firm to represent it in Washington. Politico reports that Ballard Partners will be the first firm to lobby on the country's behalf in more than a decade. Brian Ballard, a top fundraiser for President Donald Trump's campaigns, and the firm's other lobbyists will counsel Zimbabwe on communication with US Government officials, US business entities, and non-governmental audiences. James Rubin, a former State Department official in the Clinton administration, will be the lead lobbyist for Zimbabwe. The contact is worth $500 000 a year. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Trump last week prolonged the sanctions on more than 100 individuals and entities – including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor Robert Mugabe – over human rights abuses.

Full Politico report