US lifts sanctions on Zim, but targets key individ...

US lifts sanctions on Zim, but targets key individuals

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

The United States of America has lifted its general sanctions on Zimbabwe, which were imposed in 2003.

However, 14 individuals, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, General (Retired) Constantino Chiwenga, remain subject to targeted sanctions due to alleged corruption and human rights abuses.

The Zimbabwean government had long blamed the broader sanctions for the country’s economic struggles.

While the general sanctions are lifted, the US Treasury Department designated three entities and 11 individuals, including President Mnangagwa, for their involvement in “corruption or serious human rights abuse.” This designation falls under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

“Specifically, the Department of the Treasury is designating three entities and eleven individuals, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Brigadier General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi, and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, for their involvement in corruption or serious human rights abuse.

“These designations build on recent US Government actions, including pausing US participation in the African Development Bank Dialogue and utilising the Department of State’s new visa restriction policy for undermining democracy in Zimbabwe.

“These steps are concurrent with the termination of the pre-existing Zimbabwe sanctions program that began in March 2003 and expanded on in subsequent orders. Actions to retire the previous sanctions program and designate key actors under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program are part of an ongoing effort to ensure we are promoting accountability for serious human rights abuse and corruption in a targeted and strategic manner,” the US government noted.

The US government maintains that these actions are intended to promote accountability in a “targeted and strategic manner”.

Despite the lifting of general sanctions, Zimbabwe’s government spokesperson argues that the country remains under “illegal sanctions” as long as key individuals, including the President and his family, are targetted.