Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sanctioned on grounds of corruption and human rights abuses.
The sanction will affects other senior officials in the country, blocking their assets in the US and barring them from unofficial travel there.
White House said in a statement: “We continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic, and human rights.”
“The targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity have stifled fundamental freedoms, while key actors, including government leaders, have siphoned off public resources for personal gains,” it added.
“These illicit activities support and contribute to a global criminal network of bribery, smuggling, and money laundering that impoverish communities in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world.”
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has said “multiple cases of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killing” in Zimbabwe that had left people “living in fear”.
Aside the prersident, the US also sanctioned 10 other people and three businesses.
They include, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri.
Other senior security officials, including members of Zimbabwe’s national police and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), are also targeted – as are businesspeople found to have facilitated state corruption.
They include presidential advisor Kudakwashe Tagwirei, his wife and two of their businesses.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson Nick Mangwana in response to the sanctions wrote on X (formerly Twitter) to describe the sanctions as “a great vindication.”
“That said, as long our president is under sanctions Zimbabwe remains under illegal sanctions, as long as members of the First Family are under sanctions, Zimbabwe remains under illegal sanctions, and as long as senior leadership is under sanctions, we are all under sanctions,” he added.
Well, this is massive. A great vindication of President @edmnangagwa’s Foreign Policy. That said, as long our President is under Sanctions Zimbabwe remains under illegal sanctions, as long as Members of the First Family are under sanctions, Zimbabwe remains under illegal…
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) March 4, 2024
