Pamela Tremont, the newly appointed US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, remains unconcerned about the anti-sanctions protestors camped outside the embassy, calling their presence “just for show.”
The protestors, part of the Broad Alliance Against Sanctions (BAAS), have been stationed at the US Embassy since March 2019, insisting they will leave only when sanctions are lifted.
In discussions with local news editors, Tremont noted that she has not interacted with the protestors, stating:
“We already hear plenty about the sanctions from the government without needing to engage with protestors.”
Tremont also refuted claims from Zimbabwean officials that the sanctions are “illegal,” asserting that the US has the authority to regulate its banks and prevent their involvement in corruption.
In March 2024, US President Joe Biden announced the end of the Zimbabwe sanctions program, initially imposed in response to violent land seizures in the 2000s. These sanctions were implemented through Executive Orders in 2003, 2005, and 2008, which targeted the assets of individuals linked to actions against those on the US sanctions list.
After lifting broader sanctions, the US instituted stricter measures under the Global Magnitsky Act, focusing on human rights violations and corruption.
Notable individuals still on the sanctions list include President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, and several others.
The Zimbabwean government contends that these sanctions negatively impact ordinary citizens and has called for their removal.
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