The United States yesterday made partial adjustments to its targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, indicating the success of the country’s engagement and re-engagement policy under President Mnangagwa.
However, Washington still maintains illegal sanctions through the infamous Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.
The sanctions, in violation of Article 41 of the UN Charter, continue with brutality not only in the form of ZEDRA, but also in the Global Magnitsky Program where 11 individuals including President Mnangagwa and other senior government officials have been placed.
Yesterday, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order ending the national emergency related to Zimbabwe and rescinding the executive order that specifically authorized sanctions against Zimbabwe.
“I, Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States, find that the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order No. 13288 of March 6, 2003, with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons “undermine the democratic processes or institutions of Zimbabwe,” as authorized “The additional steps taken in Executive Order 13391 of November 22, 2005, and as expanded by Executive Order 13469 of July 25, 2008, shall no longer be in effect.” in part.
The three external offices removed are; Order No. 13288 Prohibiting Property of Persons Who Undermine Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe (Effective Date – 7 March 2003), Order No. 13391 Prohibiting Property of Additional Persons Who Undermine Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe (23 November 2005), Order No. 13469 Prohibiting Property of Additional Persons Who Undermine Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe Additional Persons who undermine democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe (25 July 2008).
As a result, economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) program are no longer in effect.
The lifting of the OFAC sanctions regime is a step in the right direction, albeit at a slow pace because it is accompanied by the contradictory Global Magnitsky Program that places key political figures in Zimbabwe under sanctions.
The 11 individuals remaining in the Global Magnitsky Program include President Mnangagwa, First Lady Dr. Auxilia Mnangagwa, retired Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, ZRP Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, Deputy Commissioner Stephen Mutamba, and Deputy Director. CIA General Walter Tapfumani, Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube.
Businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Ms. Sandra Mubonga and Fossil Group CEO, Mr. Obi Shimuka, remained on the sanctions list.
Three companies still on the list are Sakunda Holdings, Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting.
Zimbabwe has faced illegal economic sanctions since they were imposed as punishment for a land reform program that corrected historical land inequality.
Other Western countries, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have also imposed an illegal economic embargo on Zimbabwe resulting in a devastating impact on the country’s economy that has drained billions of potential investment. Announce
