The United States has implemented sanctions against Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa due to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
The sanctions also extend to other senior officials, freezing their assets in the US and prohibiting their unofficial travel to the country.
These new sanctions replace a broader program established two decades ago.
In a statement, the White House emphasized ongoing concerns regarding “gross abuses of political, economic, and human rights” in Zimbabwe.
It pointed out the stifling of fundamental freedoms, such as severe restrictions on political activity and targeting of civil society, while also accusing government leaders of misappropriating public resources for personal gain.
The White House linked these activities to a global criminal network involving bribery, smuggling, and money laundering.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited numerous instances of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killings in Zimbabwe, leading to widespread fear among the population.
The US government pledged to intensify efforts to hold individuals and entities accountable for such exploitation.
Alongside President Mnangagwa, the sanctions target ten other individuals and three businesses, including First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri.
Also included are various senior security officials, members of Zimbabwe’s national police and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), as well as businesspeople implicated in state corruption, such as presidential advisor Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
The US has lifted restrictions on individuals previously sanctioned, with a spokesman for the Zimbabwean government viewing this as a validation of President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy.
However, criticism remains regarding the legality of the new sanctions.
Zimbabwe has faced economic and travel sanctions from the US since the early 1990s, initially targeting then-President Robert Mugabe and numerous government officials accused of undermining democracy.
Other countries, including the UK and European Union members, have also imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa, serving his second term, has blamed such sanctions for hindering the country’s development efforts.
Source-BBC
