Fatal move by Joe Biden now affecting Zimbabwe

According to the United States’ National Emergencies Act (Section 202(d) 50, U.S.C. 1622(d)), an automatic termination of a national emergency is to take place if its annual anniversary date is reached without any mention  of continuation of  the term by the  responsible authorities. Were Zimbabweans leaders expecting the termination of these Sanctions this year? Although no word had been said of it, we can safely assume that they could have been hoping for sanctions to be relaxed.

Contrarily, the current president of the United States, Joe Biden has made use of a provision by this act that by now, has crushed any hopes of sanction removal. The National Emergency Act states that, should the President not which to lift the sanctions, he is to publish in the Federal Register and transmit to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. This move is to be made within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration.

In a statement published on the white house website, Joe Biden had this to say,

“I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in the Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003, with respect to the actions and policies of the certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions is to continue in effect beyond March 6, 2021.”

So, in effect, the sanctions that were imposed on certain high profile individuals in Zimbabwe is still very much in effect. The reason for the US president’s decision to continue with the sanctions was also included in the statement. Biden remarked,

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has not made the necessary political and economic reforms that would warrant terminating the existing targeted sanctions program. Throughout the last year, government security services routinely intimidated and violently repressed citizens, including members of opposition political parties, union members, and journalists. The absence of progress on the most fundamental reforms needed to ensure the rule of law, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights leaves Zimbabweans vulnerable to ongoing repression and presents a continuing threat to peace and security in the region”

Some of these members include the President Emmerson Mnangagwa and approximately 120 more high ranking persons.

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