United States Government Sanctions President of Zimbabwe and Others

Emmerson Mnangagwa started a second term as president last year after controversial elections

Due to their links to serious human rights violations or corruption, the United States has added eleven Zimbabwean individuals and three entities—including President Emmerson Mnangagwa—to the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme. The United States is enacting a more robust and focused sanctions policy against Zimbabwe, which includes these designations, in response to President Biden’s approval of a new Executive Order ending the sanctions programme that had been in place since 2003. 

The serious cases of human rights violations and corruption in Zimbabwe continue to worry the United States. 

Key players, including members of the Zimbabwean government, are to blame for these actions, which include the looting of public funds that deprive Zimbabweans of resources. Numerous incidents of kidnapping, physical abuse, and unauthorised killings have left the residents fearful.

The United States is committed to ensuring that the individuals most closely linked to corruption and human rights abuses are the targets of its targeted sanctions, which will be appropriate, timely, and targeted. “We continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to move towards more open and democratic governance, including addressing corruption and protecting human rights, so all Zimbabweans can prosper,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated.

In a statement, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson talked about US sanctions against people and organisations in Zimbabwe.

“In Zimbabwe, there are still flagrant abuses of political, economic, and human rights. Strict limitations on political activity and attacks on civil society have stifled fundamental freedoms. Prominent figures, including public servants, have also embezzled public funds for personal gain. These illicit activities support and facilitate bribery, smuggling, and money laundering, which negatively impact communities in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Brigadier General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi, and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei are among the eleven people and three organisations specifically named in Executive Order 13818, which implements and expands upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, for their roles in corruption or grave violations of human rights. 

These appointments are a continuation of recent US government actions, like the country’s withdrawal from the African Development Bank Dialogue and its use of the Department of State’s visa restriction policy for undermining democracy in Zimbabwe. These steps are concurrent with the termination of the preexisting 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 the U.S. is promoting accountability for serious human rights abuse and corruption in a targeted and strategic manner. 
 
Sanctions on these individuals and entities do not represent sanctions on Zimbabwe or its public.  The Administration reaffirms its commitment to work with the people of Zimbabwe; will continue to robustly support civil society, human rights defenders, and independent media to promote values consistent with the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001; and take additional measures to hold accountable those who deny Zimbabweans the democratic freedoms and good governance they deserve.