Open letter to US Ambassador Charles A. Ray

Hon. Charles A. Ray

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Dear Hon. Ambassador Ray,

Greetings! My name is Japhet M. Zwana, Zimbabwean Diasporan resident in NYC. I am a retired University Professor and administrator from the State University of New York System. I am former Resident Director of Syracuse University's Abroad Study Program in Harare.

This brief letter concerns the USAP/ZIMBABWE Program. As I understand it, USAP started in 1999 to 'provide access to higher education for determined, bright, low income youth......' 'USAP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, religion etc.'

It is further asserted that USAP participants are selected for 'embodying all of the following four qualities:
 
Academic excellence
Demonstrated leadership potential
Ethos of giving back to the community
Economic disadvantage

Although you may already be aware, I just wanted to request you, in your capacity as head of the Embassy, to revisit afresh the names of the students who constitute the classes of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013

Sir, while there is no gainsaying the tremendous blessings bestowed upon these individuals, their relatives, communities and the nation, by the generosity of US institutions of higher education, there is plenty to be said about the ethnic and geopolitical distributions in each cluster. To wit, in the Class of 2009, out of 8 students, only (1) name was identified with Matebeleland; in 2010, out of 10 only (1); in 2011, out of 8 (0); in 2012, out of 12, only (3); in 2013, out of 10 (0)

How fair and humane is it that one half of the nation is systematically and systemically excuded from the benefits that accrue from the preparation of the USAP sponsorees in the sorely needed areas of Electronics, Physics, Math, Chemistry, Biomed, Engineering, Economics, Computer Science, IT and Biology?

There is pressing need for the Embassy to play an active role in the selection process to ensure the declared discrimination blindness. Hoping to hear from you. Thank you.

Sincerely

Japhet M. Zwana, Ph.D

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