Harare – Zimbabwe summoned its US ambassador on Monday over remarks by a senior American official accusing the southern African country of stirring anti-racism protests over the death of George Floyd, the government said.

In a Sunday interview with ABC News, US national security adviser Robert O'Brien referred to Zimbabwe and China as "foreign adversaries" using social media to stoke unrest and "sow discord".

Zimbabwe's foreign ministry spokesperson James Manzou said US ambassador Brian Nichols had been called in to explain O'Brien's remarks.

'We prefer having friends and allies'

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said Zimbabwe did not consider itself "America's adversary".

"Anyone who has seen the genesis of recent events, from the tragic death of Mr Floyd to the subsequent protests, will realise that any accusations of Zimbabwean involvement at any stage is farcical," the unnamed official said.