There have been rumours lately about the identity of Zimbabweans and entities on the United Kingdom (UK) sanctions list. The UK imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and entities at the turn of the millennium following the land reform programme which the European country said was marred by the gross abuse of human rights. Some individuals and entities have been removed or added over the years. We present below a list of individuals and entities still on the list:
INDIVIDUALS
He is the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Other Information. The UK believes that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Godwin Matanga bears responsibility for serious human rights violations committed by the police and military during the crackdown on post-election protests in August 2018, which resulted in six civilian deaths. He was the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force based in Harare at the relevant time. Those actions undermined the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
2. MOYO ISAAC
He is the Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). The UK says there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Isaac Moyo, as Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), has been responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations in the context of the heavy crackdown on protests in January 2019 by state security forces. There are also reasonable grounds to suspect that in directing ECONET to suspend internet services in January 2019, which order the High Court subsequently ruled as illegal, Isaac Moyo has also been involved in other actions that undermined the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
3. NCUBE OWEN
He is the former Minister of State for National Security. There are reasonable grounds to suspect that Owen Ncube bears responsibility for serious human rights violations, including systematic torture, committed by the security forces in the context of the heavy crackdown on protests in January 2019. He was the Minister of State for National Security at the relevant time. The UK said there are also reasonable grounds to suspect that in directing ECONET to suspend internet services in January 2019, which order the High Court subsequently ruled as illegal, Owen Ncube has also been involved in other actions that undermined the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
Major General Sanyatwe is Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Tanzania. Formerly Brigadier General, Commander of the Presidential Guard and Tactical Commander of the National Reaction Force. Formerly army General. He was sanctioned for the alleged commission of serious human rights violations by military personnel in the National Reaction Force involved in the crackdown on an opposition protest carried out on 1 August 2018 leading to the deaths of six people. He was the Tactical Commander of that force at the relevant time. As such, he was accused of undermining the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
He is a Zimbabwean businessman considered a close friend of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei was sanctioned allegedly for profiting from the misappropriation of the property when his company, Sakunda Holdings, redeemed Government of Zimbabwe Treasury Bills at up to ten times their official value. His actions accelerated the deflation of Zimbabwe’s currency, increasing the price of essentials, such as food, for Zimbabwean citizens.
ENTITIES
1. ZIMBABWE DEFENCE INDUSTRIES
It is a state-owned company. It was listed on 24 July 2008.