Namibia, a southern African nation that shares a border with Zimbabwe, has expressed its opposition to the new economic sanctions imposed on its neighbor by the European Union and the United States. The sanctions, which target individuals and entities linked to human rights violations and corruption in Zimbabwe, were announced last week as a response to the ongoing political and economic crisis in the country.
The United States has announced new economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, targeting the country’s mining and agricultural sectors. The sanctions are aimed at pressuring the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to respect human rights and implement political reforms.
According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions will freeze the assets of 10 individuals and 10 entities linked to the Zimbabwean government and prohibit US citizens from doing business with them. The sanctioned individuals include senior officials, military officers, businessmen and state-owned enterprises.
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The US said the sanctions were a response to the “violent repression” of peaceful protesters, journalists and civil society activists in Zimbabwe, as well as the “corruption and mismanagement” of the economy. The US also accused the Zimbabwean government of using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to crack down on dissent and restrict freedoms.
The Zimbabwean government has condemned the sanctions as “illegal and unjustified” and accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. It said the sanctions were hurting ordinary Zimbabweans, who are already suffering from high inflation, food shortages and a collapsing health system. It also claimed that the sanctions were undermining its efforts to engage with the international community and attract foreign investment.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said that Namibia and Zimbabwe have a long history of friendship and solidarity, dating back to the liberation struggle against colonialism and apartheid. She said that Namibia stands ready to assist Zimbabwe in addressing its challenges and achieving its development goals. She called on the EU and the US to lift the sanctions and engage constructively with Zimbabwe.
The new sanctions come amid growing tensions between Zimbabwe and the US, which have been strained since the 2002 presidential election, when former President Robert Mugabe was accused of rigging the vote. The US has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Zimbabwe since then, citing human rights violations and democratic backsliding. The US has also supported the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has challenged Mnangagwa’s legitimacy and called for a national dialogue.
Namibia’s foreign minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said that the sanctions were counterproductive and would only worsen the situation in Zimbabwe. She said that Namibia supports the efforts of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among Zimbabwe’s political actors. She also urged the international community to respect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The new sanctions have also been condemned by other African countries, such as South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania, as well as by regional organizations such as SADC and the African Union. They have argued that the sanctions violate the principles of international law and interfere with Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. They have also warned that the sanctions could undermine the prospects of peace and stability in the region.
The impact of the new sanctions on Zimbabwe’s economy is likely to be significant, as the mining and agricultural sectors are the main sources of export revenue and employment. The sanctions could also affect Zimbabwe’s relations with other countries, especially China and Russia, which have been supportive of Mnangagwa’s government and have invested heavily in its infrastructure and energy projects.
The sanctions could also increase the pressure on Mnangagwa to engage with the opposition and civil society, and to implement political and economic reforms that could pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for Zimbabwe.