The United States has extended targeted sanctions imposed
on some Zanu PF officials saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government “has
arguably accelerated its persecution of critics and economic mismanagement in
the past year, during which security forces have conducted extrajudicial
killings, rapes, and alleged abductions of numerous dissidents.”
In statement posted on the White House website on
Wednesday, the Donald Trump administration said the Zimbabwean government
missed an opportunity to implement political and economic reforms and as a
result, the United States has extended the targeted sanctions beyond March,
2020.
“In the wake of the resignation of former President Robert
Mugabe in November 2017, Zimbabwe’s national elections in July 2018, and
President Mugabe’s subsequent death in September 2019, Zimbabwe has had ample
opportunity to implement reforms that could set the country on a constructive
path, stabilize the southern African region, and open the door to greater
cooperation with the United States.
“Unfortunately, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
administration has yet to signal credible political will to implement such
reforms. Indeed, the Zimbabwean government has arguably accelerated its
persecution of critics and economic mismanagement in the past year, during
which security forces have conducted extrajudicial killings, rapes, and alleged
abductions of numerous dissidents.”
The White House further said, “These actions and policies
by certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine
Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions continue to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I
have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency
declared in Executive Order 13288 with respect to Zimbabwe.”
According to the Trump administration, Section 202(d) of
the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic
termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days before the
anniversary date of its declaration, the president publishes in the Federal
Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is
to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.
“In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the
Federal Register for publication … the notice stating that the national
emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003, with respect to
the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and
other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions is
to continue in effect beyond March 6, 2020.”
The renewal of the restrictive measures comes at a time
when African leaders have been calling for the lifting of the targeted
sanctions while Zimbabwe is also engaging Washington on the political front in
an attempt to lobby for their removal.
Zimbabwe signed a $1,5 million deal with some
American-based organizations that were hired to lobby for the removal of the
sanctions. Brian Ballard, a fundraiser for Trump’s 2016 presidential election,
is the head of one of the entities hired by the southern African nation last
year.
Zimbabwe’s State Security Minister, Owen Ncube, and former
army general Anselem Sanyatwe were added to the sanctions list over what U.S.
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said was credible information of their
involvement in “gross violations of human rights.”
U.S. targeted sanctions apply to only 86 Zimbabwean
individuals and 56 entities (mostly farms and legal entities owned by the 87
individuals) as of February 2020.
The Zimbabwe sanctions program implemented by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) began on March 7, 2003, when then President
George Bush issued an executive order imposing restrictive measures against
“specifically identified individuals and entities in Zimbabwe, as a result of
the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and
other persons undermining democratic institutions or processes in Zimbabwe.”
Following this executive order, former president Barack
Obama and Trump issued other edicts extending the targeted sanctions. voa
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