Financial sanctions have been placed on four Zimbabweans, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa‘s son.
Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior is charged for having ties to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a businessman already subject to US sanctions for alleged corruption.
According to the Treasury Department, Tagwirei has amassed millions of dollars over the previous five years by expanding his company empire rapidly and engaging in shady business practices. President Mnangagwa is already under US sanctions.
The Treasury Department urged Zimbabwe‘s administration to address the “root causes” of many of the nation’s problems, particularly corrupt elites who take advantage of institutions for their own gain, in a statement.
“We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit,” Treasury said in a statement.
“The goal of sanctions is behavior change,” it said. “Today’s actions demonstrate our support for a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
In addition to Mnangagwa, Monday’s sanctions target Tagwirei’s wife, Sandra Mpunga; Nqobile Magwizi, and Obey Chimuka, along with the firms Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting. All of them are connected to Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings.