United States consolidates Zimbabwe sanctions

The United States today regularised its sanctions on Zimbabwe by consolidating executive orders issued in November 2005 and July 2008 into a final rule that is effective from today, 10 July 2014. The sanctions cover 128 individuals and 33 entities and are enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control which is part of Washington’ s treasury department. The sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe because actions and policies of certain members of the government of Zimbabwe undermined its democratic processes or institutions, contributed to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law, politically motivated violence and intimidation, destabilised the southern African region politically and economically and therefore constituted “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States”. United States sanctions on Zimbabwe have been in force for more than a decade now. The European Union, which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe at the same time, has lifted the sanctions on all individuals and entities except President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. According to the final rule even humanitarian assistance from the United States must be approved by OFAC.

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