US imposes sanctions in Sakunda boss Tagwirei

The United States today imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean businessman Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei whom it described as “notoriously corrupt”.

In a statement today US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said Tagwirei was being slapped with sanctions to mark the 1 August 2018 killing of six protesters  against the 31 July elections.

“Two years ago, Zimbabwean authorities launched a violent crackdown against citizens who were protesting flawed elections. That same government has yet to hold anyone accountable for the six protestors who were killed that day. To mark the anniversary of their deaths, today the United States is taking action to fight corruption in Zimbabwe,” Pompeo said.

“Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13469, the United States is imposing sanctions against Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, a notoriously corrupt Zimbabwean businessman, for materially assisting senior Zimbabwean government officials involved in public corruption.  Sakunda Holdings was also sanctioned for being owned or controlled by Tagwirei.

“Tagwirei has longstanding ties to the ruling party in Zimbabwe and high-level governmental officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who were listed in the Annex to E.O. 13288 in March 2003.

“He has used his relationships to gain state contracts and receive favored access to hard currency, including US dollars, especially in the Mnangagwa era.

“Tagwirei is also the Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe-based Sakunda Holdings.  Government audit reports prompted a 2019 parliamentary inquiry into whether public funds were misappropriated, revealing the government had failed to account for about US$3 billion disbursed under the Command Agriculture program, a state farm subsidy championed by President Mnangagwa and largely financed by Sakunda Holdings.”

Zimbabwe, with the support of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, have been protesting against the US sanctions which they say have nothing to do with human rights.

Pompeo, however, said: “Our actions today demonstrate to the government and people of Zimbabwe that the United States does not tolerate public corruption and will promote accountability for perpetrators of public corruption.”

Mnangagwa yesterday, vowed to deal with corruption but Zimbabweans are skeptical about this as none of the people accused of, or arrested for, corruption have been jailed so far except for former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge who was jailed for a petty corruption offence.

HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES ON US SANCTIONS

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