The United States of America Monday announced it was adding four Zimbabwean people, including the son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to the sanctions list.
The U.S. Treasury Department also announced it was hitting two companies with penalties for their roles in undermining democracy and facilitating high-level corruption. Those sanctioned include Emmerson Mnangagwa, Jr., who is said to have been in charge of his father’s business interests related to a prominent businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his Sakunda Holdings company. The sanctions freeze any assets the targets may have in U.S. jurisdictions and bar Americans from doing business with them. In a statement seen by Pindua News, the Treasury said:
We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit.
The goal of sanctions is behaviour change.
Today’s actions demonstrate our support for a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.
In addition to Mnangagwa, Monday’s sanctions target Tagwirei’s wife, Sandra Mpunga; Nqobile Magwizi, and Obey Chimuka, along with the two companies, Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting. All of them are connected to Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings.
The Treasury Department added that the sanctions demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to act in support of a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.
It also said that U.S. sanctions do not target the Zimbabwean people, the country of Zimbabwe, or Zimbabwe’s banking sector.