Zimbabwean businessman says sanctions should be a crime against humanity

“The government constantly complaints that economic difficulties are the result of US sanctions rather than their own mismanagement and corruption,” he said.

“It is true that since 2003, the United States has imposed a modest program of targeted bilateral sanctions on those who have undermined democracy. There are currently 141 specific people and entities on the list, which is available on the US treasury website.

“This includes the President, Vice President, and four members of the cabinet. There are no trade sanctions against the country. There are no bans against financial transactions with any Zimbabwean not on the list of 141,” Moss said.

This is the lie that Zimbabwean business leaders are now trying to expose.

Zimbabwe’s richest man Strive Masiyiwa who owns the Econet Group said sanctions on Zimbabwe must now be lifted because the country has served its prison time.

“If Zimbabwe had been a person who committed a crime, for which they went to prison, would you not say 20 years is enough?” he asked.

“Zimbabwe has served its prison time. It’s time for the country to be given a chance to get back on its feet.”

He also threw out Moss’s argument that sanctions only affect the 141 on the sanctions list.

“As an entrepreneur, on many occasions I have had initiatives for my country Zimbabwe, which could have created tens of thousands of new jobs. When I have discussed them with either investors or banks, they have turned me away, saying: ‘We don’t want to violate the sanctions in your country’,” Masiyiwa said.

“I have documents and emails from bankers and investors. I tried so hard to persuade some of them, often suggesting that they are not interpreting the sanctions correctly.

“In my case I was forced to go to China to secure loans to support our Zimbabwean businesses. But this was not always ideal. I have spoken about it publicly on many occasions even in the US and China itself.

“It is not right that we as business should have to work under such conditions, when all we want is to create jobs and livelihoods for ordinary people,” he said.

Joseph Mutizwa, former chief executive of Delta Zimbabwe, the third largest company on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange by market capitalization, told the same Senate committee that Moss addressed that Zimbabwean business wanted the US to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe to allow the country to move forward.

“It is the view of most in the private sector in Zimbabwe that the United States government can find in Zimbabwe a worthy and strategic partner. The road to that possibility starts here in the Senate Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on Africa and Global Health Policy.

“It is my strong and unambiguous submission, Mr Chairman, that the private sector in Zimbabwe urges the United States of America to urgently repeal Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) of 2001 ( As amended in 2018) .

“Zimbabwe is going to be a pivotal nation in the Southern Africa sub-region –a country in whom the United States may find a worthy and strong partner,” Mutizwa said.

One of Zimbabwe’s leading publishers, Trevor Ncube said: “I am 100% with @StriveMasiyiwa on this…. Sanctions are hurting all Zimbabweans.”

Kudzai Rangarirai added: “Sanctions are a crime against humanity. I’m not surprised by politicians supporting sanctions becoz it is common cause that politicians are selfish individuals. I however don’t understand how a person who works in the Human Rights movement can support sanctions.”

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