The US Department of the Treasury confirmed the lifting of the sanctions imposed in 2003 by publishing the final rule rescinding the sanctions regulations imposed on Zimbabwe.
Yesterday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) issued a final rule removing sanctions regulations on Zimbabwe from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Last month, US President Joe Biden issued an executive order rescinding the first order issued in March 2003 that blocked the properties of several Zimbabwean political leaders for “undermining Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions.”
Then US President George W. Bush decided that the actions and policies of some members of the Zimbabwean government and others contributed to the breakdown of the law in Zimbabwe.
The order also accused the government led by the late President Robert Mugabe at the time of promoting politically motivated violence and intimidation in the country.
The order also noted that the Mugabe administration was responsible for political and economic instability in the southern African region.
Bush said the government “also poses an extraordinary and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States” before declaring a national emergency to deal with that threat.
The restrictions were later renewed over the years until being removed this year.
In its assertion, the US Treasury Department said OFAC took this action because the president terminated the national emergency upon which Section 541 was invoked on March 4, 2024.
“The rule is currently available for public inspection in the Federal Register and will become effective when published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2024,” the department said.
OFAC last month designated 11 individuals, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and three entities for engaging in corruption or gross human rights abuses pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Last month, Mnangagwa became the first head of state to be appointed by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Program, alongside his wife Auxilia and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Others include Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, CIA Deputy Director Walter Tapfumani, businessman Obi Chimuka, businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, as well as his wife Sandra.
Sakunda and Fossil Group, which are linked to Tagwirei and Chimuka, were also included in the new list. Newsday