The United States imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and 10 other individuals for corruption and human rights abuses under the Global Magnitsky Act. Mnangagwa has been accused of participating in a gold-smuggling and money-laundering scheme and facilitating the Gukurahundi massacres in the 1980s. Despite his long history of corruption and abuses, the US had previously turned a blind eye to his actions.
The Global Magnitsky Act allows the US to impose sanctions on foreign government officials responsible for human rights violations or corruption. While Mnangagwa and others targeted by the act are rightfully held accountable, the US has failed to sanction leaders in other countries with similar records of violations, such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Rwanda, and Israel. This selective enforcement undermines the act’s credibility and perpetuates Western hegemony and white supremacy.
The US government’s support for Zimbabwe’s authorities, including Mnangagwa, during previous atrocities like the Gukurahundi massacres and its sudden change in stance over farm invasions reveal a pattern of hypocrisy in its foreign policy. The imposition of sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, while a welcome move for some, is seen as a continuation of this hypocrisy and selective enforcement of justice. Victims of repression around the world deserve equal treatment under the law.
The lack of accountability for leaders in countries like Israel, who have committed severe human rights violations and violations of international law, further illustrates the double standards in US foreign policy. While the Global Magnitsky Act may target some offenders, it falls short of addressing systemic oppression and violence in other countries. It is essential for the US to demonstrate consistency in its application of sanctions and hold all responsible leaders accountable for their actions.
To truly uphold justice and fairness, the US must expand its sanctions regime to include leaders in other countries known for human rights violations and corruption. By targeting only certain individuals while ignoring others, the US perpetuates a system of inequality and division among victims of repression. It is time for the US to abandon its selective enforcement of sanctions and work towards a more equitable and just global system.
