New US policy on Zimbabwe targets individuals, opens door for business

HARARE – The United States government says its latest two-pronged approach towards Zimbabwe is aimed at addressing human rights concerns while also encouraging responsible business investment in the country.

On one hand, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned 11 individuals, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and three entities under the Global Magnitsky Program.

The action aims to hold these individuals accountable for alleged involvement in corruption and human rights abuses.

However, the US simultaneously lifted broader economic sanctions that had been in place against Zimbabwe since 2003. This move, according to the US, signifies a shift towards targeted sanctions and an effort to promote legitimate business opportunities in the country.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Wednesday, U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Laurence Socha said the new measures are only targeting specific individuals while promoting business investments in the country.

“The United States is committed to ensuring our sanctions are timely, relevant and targeted against individuals responsible for corruption and serious human rights abuses. In Zimbabwe, we continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic and human rights.

“The designations target senior officials and private sector actors presently connected to corruption and human rights abuses.

“It was hard under a previous programme titled ‘The Zimbabwe Sanctions Program’ to get away from perceptions that you could not do business in Zimbabwe. That’s not true,” Socha said.

The US official emphasised that these changes are intended to encourage responsible investment while still holding individuals accountable for human rights violations.

They hope the new approach will foster a “constructive relationship” between the US and Zimbabwe, ultimately benefiting all Zimbabweans.

“We hope that business, financial institutions and investors have a new look at Zimbabwe’s markets and connections with its people.

“Lastly, we see this as an opening for a constructive relationship between the United States and Zimbabwe so that all 16 million people here have an opportunity to prosper,” he said.