Zimbabwe has denounced the U.S. decision to extend sanctions against senior officials and institutions as a "travesty of justice," citing the lack of justification for the measures.
The U.S. renewed sanctions first imposed in 2003, targeting over 100 individuals and entities including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and former leader Robert Mugabe, over alleged human rights violations. President Donald Trump described the sanctioned parties as posing "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. foreign policy.
Zimbabwe's Information Ministry Secretary Nick Mangwana rejected the claims, stating the nation has no history of aggression against other states. "The continued unilateral imposition of sanctions is a travesty of justice against the Zimbabwean people," he said in a statement carried by state media.
The sanctions extension follows Zimbabwe's 2017 military-orchestrated transition of power, which the new government has sought to leverage for renewed international engagement. Mangwana emphasized expectations for reciprocal diplomatic gestures as part of this effort.
Foreign Affairs Secretary James Manzou acknowledged the sanctions' persistence but highlighted the government's efforts to build foundations for future U.S.-Zimbabwe relations. The move coincides with upcoming visits by African leaders advocating for sanctions relief, including South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.
