MARYLAND — United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, says the Zimbabwe government should implement the necessary reforms in order for America to lift targeted sanctions imposed on some Zanu PF member over alleged corruption and human rights violations.
Brian Nichols
In an interview, Nichols told VOA Zimbabwe Service the government’s anti-sanctions campaign backed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) won’t help if there are no tangible reforms in the country.
Nichols said, “The SADC anti-sanctions campaign, orchestrated by the government of Zimbabwe, is really an effort to distract the people of Zimbabwe from the real causes of Zimbabwe’s profound problems. The government of Zimbabwe would be better served by focusing on its efforts on implementing reforms that it campaigned on, that is to say deepening democracy, combating corruption, increasing respect for human rights and opening up the economy for transparent trade and investment. Those are things that will make average Zimbabwean’s lives better.”
Nihcols said America has been pressing the Zimbabwean government to implement the necessary reforms.
“Our goal is for the nation of Zimbabwe to succeed and we believe by pursuing reforms that the Mnangagwa administration campaigned on, this country could succeed. We have consistently pressed the government of Zimbabwe to implement the necessary political, democratic and economic reforms consistent with the international human rights obligations to provide Zimbabwean citizens the prosperity, security and wellbeing that they deserve. If those things happen, there would be no need for sanctions.”
He said less than 100 Zimbabweans are on the targeted sanctions, which were imposed in 2003 following alleged human rights violations and election rigging.
“I think it’s important to stress that the United States does not have sanctions against the economy or people of Zimbabwe. Our sanctions target those who engage in corruption, violate human rights and undermine democratic processes in Zimbabwe. In fact, our sanctions have only 83 individuals and 37 entities, that is to say companies or organizations linked to those people that have either committed human rights abuses or engaged in corruption. They undermine democratic spaces here in Zimbabwe, that is our concern and we are trying to point out that feeling in our program of targeted sanctions.”
The Zimbabwean government is expected to conduct what it calls an anti-sanctions gala at the weekend in an effort to force the United States to remove the targeted sanctions.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said recently the sanctions are hurting Zimbabwe as the country can’t access lines of credit to revive industries and boost the ailing economy.
COMMENTS
It boggles the mind that Zanu-PF pretend as if they don’t understand why targeted sanctions are in place.
The US, EU and other countries are not asking Zanu-PF to treat their own nationals well when they visit Zimbabwe. They are asking Zanu-PF not to I’ll treat treat their own Zimbabwean citizens in Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF should explain to the world why US15 or is it US7 billion which disappeared cannot be accounted for when they boast of having the best police force in the world; why reporter Dzamara’s disappearance cannot be accounted for by the best police force in the world; why the three young ladies Joanna, Netsayi & Cecilia’s abductors and torturers cannot up to now be accounted for by the best police in the world; why the abductors and torturers Tawanda Muchehiwa who were clearly captured by cctv in an Impala issued vehicle cannot be accounted for with the High Court of Zimbabwe having issued a Court Order for Impala Car Company to provide the details of the person who hired the vehicle in question but the best police force in the world cannot do that simple task why?; they want to know why the judiciary is siding with Zanu-PF ; they want to know why an opposition party which was soundly beaten in the previous general election is given authority by both the judiciary and government to recall legislators and councillors of a different political party, only in Zimbabwe does that open travesty of justice is allowed to happen; etc etc
If zanu PF and its leaders do not understand the above then surely they are too dull to lead the country. Is this too difficult for Zanu-PF to understand or do they assume that people are too stupid to know that they oppress, abduct, torture, imprison innocent people and kill innocent civilians, rig elections etc.
I’d say ZANUPF’s “lack of understanding” isn’t even “willful ignorance” or simple “denial” for lack of knowledge… they just trying to deflect responsibility. If ya tell a big enough lie often enough, there are those who will see an advantage in that lie, and they’ll begin to repeat it as a mantra. ZANUPF modus operandi… why tell the truth when a lie better fits the party narrative.
Well said.