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FULL List of eleven Mnangagwa allies sanctioned by the US: ‘We are refocusing on clear and specific targets’
By Agencies
The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior leaders, denouncing what it said was a campaign of rights abuses and corruption.
The sanctions, which will block any US-based property and block any unofficial travel to the United states, replace a broader, two-decade-old sanctions program against Zimbabwe.
“The changes we are making today are intended to make clear what has always been true: our sanctions are not intended to target the people of Zimbabwe,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said.
“We are refocusing our sanctions on clear and specific targets: President Mnangagwa’s criminal network of government officials and businesspeople who are most responsible for corruption or human rights abuse against the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Key individuals, including members of the government of Zimbabwe, bear responsibility for these actions, including the looting of government coffers that robs Zimbabweans of public resources,” Blinken said in a statement.
“Multiple cases of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killing have left citizens living in fear.”
TARGETED INDIVIDUALS
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Emmerson Mnangagwa
Is involved in corrupt activities, in particular those relating to gold and diamond smuggling networks. Mnangagwa provides a protective shield to smugglers to operate in Zimbabwe and has directed Zimbabwean officials to facilitate the sale of gold and diamonds in illicit markets, taking bribes in exchange for his services. Mnangagwa also oversees Zimbabwe’s security services, which have violently repressed political opponents and civil society groups.
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Auxillia Mnangagwa –
facilitates her husband’s corrupt activities.
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Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei
is a close ally of Mnangagwa and has a longstanding association with the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). He has provided high-value gifts to senior members of the Government of Zimbabwe to gain access to resources and exerts significant control over major sectors of Zimbabwe’s economy.
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Sandra Mpunga
Tagwirei’s wife, has been instrumental in Tagwirei’s business activities.
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Obey Chimuka
Sits on the board and serves as director of several Tagwirei-owned companies. Chimuka owns Fossil Contracting, which has received Government of Zimbabwe contracts that have facilitated acts of corruption.
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Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga
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Oppah Muchinguri
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Godwin Matanga
is the Commissioner-General of the ZRP
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Stephen Mutamba (Mutamba)
has been a Deputy Commissioner-General of the ZRP since at least 2019. Under his leadership, ZRP members have engaged in the violent oppression of political opposition.
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Walter Tapfumaneyi (Tapfumaneyi)
has been the Deputy Director General of Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) since 2020. He reportedly answers directly to Mnangagwa, and led the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups. He is also alleged to have been personally involved in past kidnappings.
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Owen Ncube (Ncube)
was Zimbabwe’s Minister of State Security from 2018 to 2022, during which time he ordered security services to identify, abduct, and mistreat individuals assessed to be supporters of a Zimbabwean opposition group. He was recently reappointed to government as the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs. He is reported to lead a notoriously violent group that is alleged to be responsible for attacks and killings around Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.