US SANCTIONS PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sanctioned by the US for corruption and human rights abuses.

The order also affects other senior leaders in the country - blocking their assets in the US and prohibiting them from unofficial travel there.

Two decades ago, a broader program of sanctions was introduced.

In a statement, the White House said it continues to witness gross abuses of political, economic, and human rights.

In addition, "civil society has been targeted and political activity is severely restricted, while key actors, including government officials, have siphoned off public resources for their own benefit."

In Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world, these illicit activities contribute to a global criminal network of bribery, smuggling, and money laundering.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, cited "multiple cases of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killings" in Zimbabwe.

The White House issued a statement saying it was "refocusing and elevating its efforts to hold those responsible for this abuse accountable."

In addition to Mr Mnangagwa, the US sanctioned 10 other people and three companies.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri are among those on the list.

Other senior security officials, including Zimbabwe's national police and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), as well as businesspeople found to have facilitated state corruption, are also targeted.

Among them are presidential advisor Kudakwashe Tagwirei, his wife, and two of their businesses.

Those who were previously sanctioned by the US but are not on the new list have had their restrictions lifted.

Nick Mnangagwa, spokesman for the Zimbabwean government, called the new tariffs "illegal" and described the lifting of old sanctions as a vindication of President Mnangagwa's foreign policy.

According to Farai Muroiwa Marapira, a spokesman for Mr Mnangagwa's Zanu PF party, the president's policy of "friendship to all and openness to all has yielded bittersweet results".

He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Zimbabwe remains sanctioned and burdened by this illegality as long as the president, the first lady, and senior officials remain sanctioned."

In the early 2000s, the US first imposed economic and travel sanctions on Zimbabwe, targeting then-President Robert Mugabe and dozens of other high-level government officials.

Zimbabwe has also been sanctioned by the UK and European Union members.

Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa, who was sworn in for a second term last year, has previously blamed economic tariffs for crippling the country's development.