US sanctions Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa, others over human rights abuses

Due to their alleged involvement in corruption and violations of human rights, the United States on Monday sanctioned Zimbabwe’s first lady, president Emmerson Mnangagwa, and other government officials.

Three organisations and eleven individuals, including the Mnangagwas, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, and retired Brig. Gen. Walter Tapfumaneyi, were subject to sanctions by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Among other things, Mnangagwa is charged with sheltering smugglers of gold and diamonds operating in Zimbabwe, ordering government employees to assist in the selling of these commodities in black markets, and accepting payments in exchange for his services.

On Monday, President Joe Biden also issued an executive order lifting the national emergency in Zimbabwe and lifting the sanctions imposed on the country. Now, the administration is using a Trump-era executive order that implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act as its authority to issue the sanctions.

Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the changes to Zimbabwe’s sanctions regime “are intended to make clear what has always been true: our sanctions are not intended to target the people of Zimbabwe.”