US Treasury Takes Action Against Human Rights Abusers in Zimbabwe
Washington, September 15, 2022
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken decisive action against human rights abusers and those undermining democratic processes in Zimbabwe. In a move aimed at promoting positive change, OFAC designated one individual from Zimbabwe while removing eleven others from the Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN List) under the Zimbabwe sanctions program.
Targeting Human Rights Abusers
The Zimbabwe sanctions program targets individuals who abuse human rights and undermine democratic institutions, not the people of Zimbabwe or the country’s banking sector. The 11 individuals removed from the SDN list were either deceased or deemed no longer to be a threat to Zimbabwe’s democracy, following a thorough review by the US Government.
Designating Stephen Mutamba
In a separate move, OFAC designated Stephen Mutamba, Deputy Commissioner for Administration at the Zimbabwe Republic Police, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13469 for his role in undermining democratic processes and institutions. Mutamba has been accused of taking actions that threaten and undermine legitimate political parties who oppose the policies of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party.
Alleged Violations
Mutamba’s actions allegedly include:
- Supporting the use of pressure and intimidation on prominent opposition figures
- Advocating for uneven enforcement of COVID-related curfews to limit opposition activities
- Restricting international observers from monitoring the 2023 elections
Condemnation by US Government
The US Government has condemned these actions and called for full participation across the political spectrum in next year’s elections.
“The United States stands with the people of Zimbabwe against unjust actions against political opponents or assaults on democracy by ZANU-PF,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
Implications
The designation and removals have significant implications, including:
- Blocking all property and interests in property located in the US or controlled by US persons
- Prohibiting transactions involving blocked or designated individuals
Goal of Sanctions
The ultimate goal of sanctions is to bring about positive change in behavior, rather than punishment. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions rely not only on designations but also on consistent removals from the SDN List.
Process for Seeking Removal
For information on the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 or click here for detailed information on submitting a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.