6 March 2025
Harare, Zimbabwe – The United States has imposed new targeted sanctions on Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior officials, citing ongoing concerns over corruption and human rights abuses in the southern African nation.
These new sanctions replace the broader sanctions regime previously in place since 2003. While the previous measures were lifted for many individuals and entities, the US has chosen to maintain a focus on specific leaders allegedly connected to the aforementioned issues.
President Mnangagwa, First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, several security officials, and businessmen linked to government corruption.
The resriction focuses on Freezing of assets held within the US, travel bans to the US.
The US government expresses concern over “serious violations of political, economic and human rights,” including “targeting of civil society,” “restrictions on political activities,” “exploitation of public resources for personal gain,” and “kidnappings, physical assaults and random killings.”
Denies allegations, criticizes new sanctions as “illegal,” highlights the lifting of previous sanctions as a positive step ad US reiterates commitment to holding individuals accountable for the “illegal activities” impacting Zimbabwe and the region.
This development comes amidst ongoing criticism of the Zimbabwean government’s human rights record and its handling of corruption.
The US joins other countries, such as the UK and members of the European Union, in maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe.
