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UK slaps Zim security chiefs with sanctions

Staff Reporter

THE United Kingdom (UK) Monday slapped sanctions on Zimbabwe’s top four security chiefs for their hand in protesters’ killings hitting a hard blow on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to re- engage the West after years of international isolation.

The quad includes state security minister Owen Ncube ,intelligence director Isaac Moyo, police chief and Godwin Matanga ,leader of the Presidential Guard Anselem Sanyatwe have been sanctioned for their alleged role in the deaths of 23 Zimbabwean protesters killed for expressing the right to free speech and demonstration.

The UK Government believes that the four are responsible for quashing demonstrations and killing innocent citizens since Mnangagwa’s takeover in November 2017.

Hopes were high that UK’s exit from the European Union would reignite lost love between the two nations but the latest development has proved the former’s consistency on the need for Zimbabwe to truly reform.

Said Dominic Raab, the UK Foreign Secretary: “These sanctions send a clear message that we will hold to account those responsible for the most egregious human rights violations, including the deaths of innocent Zimbabweans.”

“We will continue to press for the necessary political and economic reforms that will benefit all Zimbabweans.”

Despite the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry having found the security guilty and responsible for the merciless killings almost two years ago, Mnangagwa’s administration has not shown any commitment to bring the perpetrators to account.

The European Union has since made it clear that Zimbabwe needs to initiate deep reforms if the reengagement drive is to bear fruits and has continued to renew sanctions against Harare year in year out citing similar issues as those raised by the UK among others.

The United States has since added Sanyatwe on their sanctions list and recently condemned Mnangagwa’s failure to hold his security chiefs to account.

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