Monday 18 January 2021 | About Us | Contact Us | Register for free email alerts Subscribe for full access Login
EU sanctions on Zimbabwe were first imposed in 2002, by Common Position 2002/145/CFSP, in relation to the escalation of violence and intimidation of political opponents and the harassment of the independent press. The sanctions comprised an arms embargo, as well as an asset freeze and travel ban on targeted people and entities. The current EU sanctions regime on Zimbabwe is imposed pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 314/2004 (as amended) and Council Decision 2011/101/CFSP (as amended), and likewise consists of an arms embargo and targeted asset freezes and travel bans.
It has been reported that OFAC has decided to waive a $385m penalty imposed on Zimbabwe’s CBZ Holdings in 2017. A cautionary letter was issued after OFAC finished a review of 15,000 transactions carried out by CBZ from 2009 to 2014 on behalf of ZB Bank, which was US-designated at the time.
OFAC has listed Zimbabwean businessman Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei for providing support to the leadership of the Zimbabwean government, and his company Sakunda Holdings, for being owned/controlled by Mr Tagwirei, pursuant to E.O. 13469. Tagwirei is said to have used his relationship with US-designated President Mnangagwa and other officials to gain state contracts, and access hard currency, such as US dollars, …
OFAC has amended the Zimbabwe Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 541 to remove a general licence which authorised transactions involving Agricultural Development Bank of Zimbabwe and Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe. Authorisation to engage in transactions with the banks is no longer required following their delisting in 2016. Final Rule and Notice.
In February 2020, the EU Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/215, which renewed for 1 year its arms embargo on Zimbabwe and asset freeze against Zimbabwe Defence Industries; removed Robert Mugabe’s listing; suspended Grace Mugabe’s listing; and renewed the designations of 3 officials, which are currently suspended (see post). Press release here. The following countries have aligned themselves with this decision: …
Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, has called for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Syria, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe, as such measures “severely undermine the ordinary citizens’ fundamental right to sufficient and adequate food” in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Special Rapporter issued a statement saying that countries under unilateral economic sanctions are …
Amended by:
Amended by: