Zimbabwe: US slaps fresh sanctions on President Mnangagwa and other leaders
BBC NewsMar 01
US Sanctions Zimbabwe Leader Over Alleged Abuses
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The Facts
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Monday against Zimbabwe's Pres. Emmerson Mnangagwa for alleged human rights abuses and corruption.
Mnangagwa faces accusations of shielding the operation of gold and diamond smuggling gangs, even directing and bribing government officials to facilitate illegal sales in illicit markets, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken also citing "multiple cases of abductions" and "unlawful killing."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Mnangagwa's promise of a new democratic Zimbabwe after Mugabe fell has been nothing but a lie. Since becoming president, the former deputy to the dictator has merely continued his legacy of political oppression, corruption, and a debt-burdened economy at breaking point. These sanctions come as no surprise, as Zimbabwe's political elite continue to destroy the country for their own personal benefit.
Establishment-critical narrative
These US sanctions are illegal and unjustified, designed solely to weaponize its global imperialist agenda. While Mnangagwa maintains his efforts to drive the country to prosperity, America and its allies continue to place devastating and unjustified economic punishments upon Zimbabwe — this will merely damage its society and prohibit the state from enacting much-needed change.
Nerd narrative
There is a 19% chance that Zimbabwe will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.