United States Senators Jim Risch and Chris Coons yesterday sent a letter to the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting that the U.S. Department of the Treasury update the list of sanctioned persons in Zimbabwe.
The Senators say the US must communicate that the over 10 years sanctions are not aimed at the Zimbabwean people.
“While the United States has been the top provider of humanitarian and development aid to meet the needs of Zimbabwe’s people, the government of Zimbabwe has implemented a misinformation campaign blaming the country’s woes on targeted sanctions programs implemented by the United States,” said the senators.
“It is important that the United States communicate to the people of Zimbabwe that our sanctions programs are aimed at deterring human rights abuses, public corruption, the undermining of democratic processes or institutions, and political repression in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwean officials blame US sanctions for economic challenges facing the country.
The African government, last year, held an anti-sanctions march with President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressing the nation calling for the removal of sanctions which he called illegal.
Zimbabwe also managed to rally other African regional advocate groups to call for the removal of sanctions without success.
Current Zimbabwean government inherited sanctions from the Robert Mugabe administration, which was accused of human rights violations.
The US, however, calls the sanctions targeted and has denied the embargoes role for the downfall of the Zimbabwean economy.
The American country instead, blames corruption in Zimbabwe’s government for the economic challenges facing the country.
“Given the developments in Zimbabwe over the last two years, we urge you to consider enhancing the tools at your disposal, including the use of targeted sanctions, to incentivize changes in behavior by the Government of Zimbabwe,” the US Senators said.
“An update to the list of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list should incorporate a balance of new designations with appropriate removals.”
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