Trump extends sanctions on Zimbabwe by another year from 6 March

United States President Donald Trump has extended sanctions on Zimbabwe by another year from 6 March.

In a statement today, the Whitehouse said the situation in Zimbabwe had not improved and continues to pose “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States”.

Washington first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe on 6 March 2003 and they have been in force since.

Former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said Washington should consider lifting the sanctions if Zimbabwe holds credible and non-violent elections this year.

Other speakers, however, urged the US to maintain sanctions on Harare because the situation had had not changed.

Notice of the President’s Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Zimbabwe

Foreign Policy

Issued on: March 2, 2018

On March 6, 2003, by Executive Order 13288, the President declared a national emergency and blocked the property of certain persons, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions.  These actions and policies had contributed to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, to politically motivated violence and intimidation in that country, and to political and economic instability in the southern African region.

On November 22, 2005, the President issued Executive Order 13391 to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 by ordering the blocking of the property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.

On July 25, 2008, the President issued Executive Order 13469, which expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 and authorized the blocking of the property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.

The actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on March 6, 2003, and the measures adopted on that date, on November 22, 2005, and on July 25, 2008, to deal with that emergency must continue in effect beyond March 6, 2018.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 2, 2018.

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