The Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Zimbabwe, Laurence Socha, says targeted sanctions are aimed bringing out good behaviour from the affected individuals.
This comes as the U.S. government sanctioned President Emmerson Mnangaga, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, and 9 other prominent Zimbabweans under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Socha said United States will continue supporting Zimbabweans, adding that “the 11 individuals and three entities sanctioned under the current Global Magnitsky designations are there for their flagrant human rights abuses and corrupt behaviour.
“U.S. policy, our policy has not changed. Our policy on Zimbabwe supports the citizens of Zimbabwe and its democratic institutions. That has not changed.
But this is a shift in approach and it’s consistent with our focus on corrupt actors and human rights abusers. U.S. sanctions are not intended to be permanent.
One of the primary goals of U.S. sanctions is to bring about positive changes and behaviour.
