US citizens barred from meeting Mnangagwa at the Maputo summit

A former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Todd Moss has today warned United States citizens attending the US-Africa business summit in Maputo who plan to meet Zimbabwean officials to check the United States sanctions list first.

“It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing. This is US law. US citizens are barred from any meetings or transactions that may benefit designated individuals. ED is a designated individual,” he tweeted.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in Maputo attending the four-day US-Africa business summit which is being hosted jointly by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Mozambican government.

It began yesterday and ends on 21 June.

Zimbabwe has been under United States sanctions since 2003. Washington claims that the sanctions are targeted at 141 individuals and entities but Zimbabwe has argued all along that they affect the average Zimbabwean most.

The United States imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe because the actions and policies of Zimbabwe “pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States”.

Zimbabwe is currently reeling from an economic crisis that is characterised by a shortage of fuel, cash, electricity, and escalating prices.

It blames the crisis on United States sanctions which were extended for another year by the Donald Trump administration in March.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition, which supports the sanctions, says the crisis in the country is a crisis of legitimacy as its leader Nelson Chamisa won last year’s presidential elections but was robbed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Asked by Bruce Winson: “U can’t even meet with someone on the list,” Moss responded: “Nope. Not if it provides potential material benefit.”

Coleen asked: “Potential material benefits to him personally or even to his country?”

Moss did not respond but “African Conservative” replied: “Even the country” to which Coleen tweeted back: “So much for targeted sanctions!”

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