By Derick Tsimba

Government will continue to engage in meaningful dialogue with the United States of America and continue to travel on the path of reform that benefits every Zimbabwean, the Minister of Foreign affairs has said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Lt General (Rtd) Dr. Sibusiso Moyo in a press statement issued yesterday over the inclusion of the Minster of State Security, Owen Ncube and Ambassador Anselm Sanyatwe as “Specially Designated Nationals” on the OFAC US Treasury Sanctions List recently said, regardless of this negative approach to Zimbabwe, Government will continue to engage United States of America.

“Regardless of these negative developments and the lack of even-handedness in the US approach to Zimbabwe, my Government will continue to engage in meaningful dialogue with the United States of America.  In parallel, we will continue to travel the path of reform for the benefit of all our people,” he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also said the decision was further eroding trust and confidence in the relationship between Zimbabwe and the United States of America.

“This decision can only further erode trust and confidence in the relationship between Zimbabwe and the United States at a time when, more than ever, confidence-building measures are required so as to sustain the ongoing process of re-engagement between our two countries,” said the Minister.

Minister Moyo said US Government, on further sanctioning the two Zimbabwe senior citizens has disregarded the procedural way of the course of justice.

“In taking this action, the US Government appears, unilaterally, to have charged, tried, convicted and sentenced two very senior Zimbabwean nationals - surely the very antithesis of justice as we understand it.

“The holding to account of any individual or individuals, anywhere in the world, for alleged human rights abuses and /or political repression must surely be evidence-based as scrutinized in and upheld by a court of law. Any other approach is surly, in itself, a violation of those individual human rights,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Harare Post has learnt despite the fact that both officials were already placed on the State Department Visa and Travel Negative List during the course of 2019, their inclusion on the OFAC US Treasury Sanctions List is based on allegations of human rights abuses and political repression all of which if brought before the court of law will be discarded.