‘Sanctions impede improvement of relations’

Gibson Nyikadzino Herald Correspondent

Foreign Affairs and International Trade acting Permanent Secretary Ambassador Rofina Chikava last week held discussions with senior advisor to the office of sanctions coordination in the US State Department Mr Brad Brooks-Rubin over the new sanctions regime against Zimbabwe under the Global Magnitsky Act.

Mr Brooks-Rubin was accompanied by Ms Elaine French, the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires. The meeting comes after the US government last month invoked the Global Magnitsky Act to escalate use of economic warfare against Zimbabwe, further putting the country’s status at risk.

After the meeting, Chief Director Political Affairs in the Foreign Affairs ministry Mr Pearson Chigiji told the media that the maintenance of sanctions against Zimbabwe by the US is the “bone of contention” in the normalisation of relations.

“We have just had a meeting with Mr Brooks-Rubin who was accompanied by US Embassy officials. We wanted to hear what his mission wants in Zimbabwe. We know of the March 4 sanctions review on Zimbabwe where they maintained sanctions on 11 individuals and 3 entities.

“The unfortunate part is our national leadership remains on the sanctions and this is the bone of contention,” Mr Chigiji said.

He indicated that Zimbabwe considers the maintenance of the sanctions through the Global Magnitsky Act on the country’s leadership as unnecessary.

On March 4, US President Joe Biden announced the termination of the Executive Orders used to launch economic war against Zimbabwe, with a new regime now sanctioning President Mnangagwa, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, among others and also some business entities.

Added Mr Chigiji: “We would rather have no sanctions as a way to improve our relations. We consider the maintenance of sanctions on 11 individuals who constitute the leadership of the country as continuance of the country risk.”

Mr Brooks-Rubin and Ms French did not address media queries on the scope of the meeting and how the US government intends to improve bilateral relations with Zimbabwe under the current sanctions regime.