WASHINGTON D.C., United States – The United States says it remains “seriously concerned” about human rights abuses by the Zimbabwe government, and will keep sanctions in place until President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government implements reforms.
President Donald Trump last week renewed sanctions on 84 individuals and 56 entities for another year, extending Zimbabwe’s international isolation.
In a briefing with reporters on Thursday, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said the sanctions were targeting “certain persons and senior officials in the government of Zimbabwe that have participated in human rights abuses related to political repression or have engaged in facilitating public corruption.”
“These are not comprehensive sanctions, these are targeted sanctions against individuals,” Palladino said, rejecting claims by the Zimbabwe government that the sanctions were hurting ordinary people.
Mnangagwa’s government has hired a United States lobbyist at a cost of $500,000 per year to try and change perceptions in Washington, but Palladino maintained that only the positive actions of the Zimbabwe government would cause a policy rethink.
“We believe that President Mnangagwa has yet to implement the political and economic overhaul required to improve the country’s reputation with the community of nations and with the United States, frankly,” said Palladino.
“The actions of these targeted individuals continue to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes. We are also seriously concerned about the ongoing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.”
A military-led crackdown that followed protests over a 168 percent rise in the price of fuel on January 14 has drawn international condemnation. Dozens of civil society activists, MPs and opposition supporters have been taken to court and charged with crimes ranging from incitement of violence to treason. At least 17 people have been killed, say rights groups.
