THE Donald Trump-led United States administration has tabled a raft of tough conditions to be met before full engagement with Zimbabwe and removal of sanctions, setting the stage for a possible clash with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Zanu PF government.

This came as three opposition leaders - Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T), Tendai Biti (People's Democratic Party) and Jacob Ngarivhume (Transform Zimbabwe) under the banner of the MDC Alliance - and several civil society groups visited the US this week on a diplomatic mission to present the country's state of affairs.

Acting principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Africa, Stephanie Sullivan on Tuesday demanded that Zimbabwe should reform first before opening negotiations for re-engagement.

She said engagement with the recently-inaugurated Mnangagwa government should be premised on demonstrated behaviour change and not rhetorical intentions.

"Along the way, there will be many actions that we will need to assess, as we look to re-engage.

"We will need to see free and fair elections.

"The military needs to return to its barracks and State institutions should be demilitarised," Sullivan said in a paper titled The Future of Zimbabwe to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations subcommittee on African Affairs.

"Perpetrators of abuses against civilians should be held accountable regardless of party affiliation.

"The government must engage in hard economic reforms, including addressing budget deficits, reforming the Indigenisation Act and reducing corruption.

"We will want to see improved protection of fundamental freedoms, a freer media, and a truth and reconciliation process.

"The people of Zimbabwe deserve these reforms, and many more."

However, Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday scoffed at conditions set by Trump's administration, saying the ruling party had no obligation to take orders from another sovereign State.

"We are never given conditions of engagements.

"As a party we never work on conditions," he said, referring further questions to Mnangagwa's spokesperson, George Charamba, who was not reachable on his mobile phone.

MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora yesterday reiterated his party's position that Zimbabwe should only approach the international community for engagement with clean hands.

BY OBEY MANAYITI/EVERSON MUSHAVA