The United States has imposed sanctions on the son of the President of Zimbabwe, accused of corruption, Washington announced on Monday, on the eve of the opening of a summit between Joe Biden and several African leaders.
Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr, son of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been targeted by the US Departments of State and Treasury for his ties to Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
He, along with his company Sakunda Holdings, was subject to US sanctions in 2020 for corruption and human rights violations.
"Commercial Empire"
The sanctions also target Kudakwashe Tagwirei's wife, Sandra Mpunga, one of his relatives, Obey Chimuka, and a manager of his company, Nqobile Magwizi.
As well as two companies controlled by Obey Chimuka, Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting.
Kudakwashe Tagwirei
"used his connections with senior Zimbabwean officials to secure state contracts and privileged access to foreign currencies, including the US dollar", and then "provided high-priced items, such as expensive cars, to senior Zimbabwean government officials
,” the Treasury said in a statement.
"Since the departure of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 2017, Tagwirei has used a set of opaque business dealings and its ongoing relationship with President Mnangagwa to significantly expand its business empire and raise millions of US dollars," added
the ministry.
Obey Chimuka, a close associate, has benefited from major government program contracts, according to the Treasury, which points out that Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr "has
been in charge of the president's business interests related to (Kudakwashe) Tagwirei".
These sanctions were announced the day before the opening in Washington of a summit between the United States and Africa, during which US President Joe Biden will receive around fifty heads of state from the African continent.
The White House announced on Monday afternoon that the United States would
"dedicate $55 billion to Africa across a wide range of sectors"
over three years.
President Mnangagwa, however, does not plan to attend;
instead, Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Frederick Shava will represent the country, according to a list of expected attendees.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, came to power in 2017 after the forced departure of President Robert Mugabe, who had ruled the country with an iron fist since 1980. Zimbabwe's economy has been in agony for years, weighed down by galloping inflation, endemic power cuts and glaring poverty.
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