U.S. Sanctions Zimbabwean President, Top Officials for Corruption

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean top officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.

Additionally, Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga and eight other senior officials face sanctions for corruption and human rights abuses.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned three entities and 11 individuals.

Specifically, President Mnangagwa stands accused of protecting gold and diamond smugglers and facilitating the illegal sale of these precious minerals.

He allegedly took bribes for these services. In a significant move, President Joe Biden signed an executive order ending Zimbabwe’s national emergency and revoking specific sanctions.

However, the administration is now using a Trump-era executive order under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to issue new sanctions.

Treasury Deputy Secretary, Wally Adeyemo clarified that the changes in Zimbabwe’s sanctions regime aim to target specific individuals responsible for corruption or human rights abuses.

Adeyemo stated;

Today we are refocusing our sanctions on clear and specific targets: President Mnangagwa’s criminal network of government officials and businesspeople.

In response to the U.S sanctions, Zimbabwe’s government spokesman, Nick Mangwana tweeted that the sanctions impact the entire nation, not just the leadership.

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, emphasized that the sanctions form part of a stronger, more targeted policy towards Zimbabwe.

According to Blinken;

Key individuals, including members of the Government of Zimbabwe, bear responsibility for these actions, including the looting of government coffers.

Conclusively, President Mnangagwa, who was sworn in for a second term last September, now faces international scrutiny as the U.S. intensifies its efforts to address corruption and human rights violations in Zimbabwe.