BUT slap Mnangagwa and crew with I tough sanctions
By Kwedu News
THE United States of America has terminated some sanctions against Zimbabwe through an executive order, though eleven individuals and three companies remain on sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act of 2016.
The United States of America through President Joe Biden has removed some sanctions on Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the US Department of Treasury said all property and interests in property blocked solely pursuant to the Zimbabwe Sanctions Programme will be unlocked this Monday.
“OFAC will remove the Zimbabwe Sanctions regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations,” reads the statement.
According to the statement, ZDERA however remains law, meaning several Zimbabweans and some companies remain on the sanctions list.
Some of the 11 individuals who remain on sanctions are President Emmerson Mnangagwa, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Minister of Defence, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, ZRP Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, Deputy Commissioner Stephen Mutamba, Deputy Director General-Central intelligence Organisation, Walter Tapfumaneyi, Midlands Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Owen Ncube.
Business magnet, Kudakwashe Tagwirei,( a close Mnangagwa aide)Sandra Mupunga and Fossil Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Obey Chimuka have remained on the sanctions list.
Three companies that are still on the list are Sakunda Holdings, Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting .All these companies are believed to be either owned by Tagwirei and linked to Mnangagwa. Below is Biden’s Pronouncement.
Treasury Sanctions Zimbabwe’s President and Key Actors for Corruption and Serious Human Rights Abuse
March 4, 2024
Following U.S. termination of the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program, Treasury designates key actors under the Global Magnitsky Program
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 11 individuals, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and three entities for their involvement in corruption or serious human rights abuse pursuant to E.O. 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Concurrently, President Biden signed an Executive Order (E.O.) terminating the national emergency with respect to Zimbabwe and revoking the E.O.s that have authorized Zimbabwe-specific sanctions. As a result, the economic sanctions administered by OFAC pursuant to the Zimbabwe sanctions program are no longer in effect.
This transition to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Program, consistent with recommendations in Treasury’s 2021 Sanctions Review, emphasizes the U.S. commitment to promoting accountability for corrupt and abusive networks restricting the political rights and economic resources of the people of Zimbabwe.
“The United States remains deeply concerned about democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and government corruption in Zimbabwe,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “The changes we are making today are intended to make clear what has always been true: our sanctions are not intended to target the people of Zimbabwe. Today we are refocusing our sanctions on clear and specific targets: President Mnangagwa’s criminal network of government officials and businesspeople who are most responsible for corruption or human rights abuse against the people of Zimbabwe. These changes to our approach provide an opportunity for the Government of Zimbabwe to undertake key reforms to improve its record on human rights, good governance, and anti-corruption. Consistent with the findings of Treasury’s 2021 sanctions review, we are committed to the use of economic sanctions towards a clear and specific objective, in coordination with diplomacy and other tools of statecraft.”
TERMINATION OF THE ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS PROGRAM
The President’s E.O. of March 4, 2024, “Termination of Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Zimbabwe,” terminated the national emergency declared in E.O. 13288 and built upon in E.O. 13391 and E.O. 13469. As a result:
All persons blocked solely pursuant to E.O. 13288, E.O. 13391, or E.O. 13469 (the authorities of the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program) will be removed today from OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List;
All property and interests in property blocked solely pursuant to the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program will be unblocked today; and
OFAC will remove the Zimbabwe Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Pending or future OFAC investigations or enforcement actions related to apparent violations of the Zimbabwe Sanctions Regulations that occurred while the national emergency was in effect may still be carried out.
SANCTIONS TRANSITION UNDER THE GLOBAL MAGNITSKY PROGRAM
Emmerson Mnangagwa (Mnangagwa) is the President of Zimbabwe and is involved in corrupt activities, in particular those relating to gold and diamond smuggling networks. Mnangagwa provides a protective shield to smugglers to operate in Zimbabwe and has directed Zimbabwean officials to facilitate the sale of gold and diamonds in illicit markets, taking bribes in exchange for his services. Mnangagwa also oversees Zimbabwe’s security services, which have violently repressed political opponents and civil society groups.
Mnangagwa was originally listed in the Annex to E.O. 13288 of March 6, 2003 and the Annex to E.O. 13391 of November 22, 2005. Today, he is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818
