Donald Trump of America has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe by a year, saying the new government’s policies still pose “unusual and extraordinary” threats to US foreign policy.
The renewal comes despite requests by African leaders, including Cyril Ramaphosa, that sanctions should be lifted to give this country a chance to emerge from its economic crisis.
Trump administration officials say the sanctions will apply until Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government allow Zimbabweans to have media freedom and legal protests.
Zimbabwe’s secretary for information, Nick Mangwana, said the “government has noted with dismay the White House message” extending the sanctions for another year.
“Once again the government of the United States has chosen to strangely characterise Zimbabwe as a country that poses an extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States,” Mangwana said in a statement.
“We find this a baffling position.”
Aljazeera reports