Former Presidential Guard commander and Zimbabwe’s ambassador-designate to Tanzania Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The U.S. Department of State has  sanctioned Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, former Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Presidential Guard Brigade and current Ambassador  to Tanzania,  for his alleged  involvement in the killing  of six unarmed  Zimbabweans during post-election protests in 2018.   In addition to the designation of Sanyatwe, the Department is also publicly designating his spouse, Chido Machona. The Secretary of State publicly designated Sanyatwe, under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (Div. F, P.L. 116-6), due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights.  Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.  The U.S. Department of State said it has credible information that Sanyatwe was involved in the violent crackdown against unarmed Zimbabweans during post-election protests on August 1, 2018 that resulted in six civilian deaths.

“To date, the Government of Zimbabwe has held no member of the security forces accountable for the acts of violence committed against Zimbabweans on August 1, 2018.  Furthermore, there has been no accountability for the excessive use of force by Zimbabwean security forces on civilians in January and February this year, which reportedly resulted in at least 13 deaths, 600 victims of violence, torture or rape, and more than 1,000 arrests.  We again call on Zimbabwean authorities to hold accountable those officials responsible for human rights violations and abuses in Zimbabwe.”

-U.S. Department of State Spokesperson 

President Mnangagwa Summons US Ambassador over Sanyatwe Sanction

Credit Wikipedia Commons /  kremlin.ru /    President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa

Sanyatwe blamed the opposition for the killings when he appeared before a commission of inquiry led by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.  President  Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government Friday summoned US ambassador to Harare, Brian Nichols to register its displeasure over the U.S. action.  The U.S. move has annoyed Harare with Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Shepherd Gwenzi saying the decision by Washington was regrettable,  New Zimbabwe reported. 

“The decision by the Washington is regrettable as it comes at a time that government at  is intensifying the implementation of political and economic reforms including the (Former South African President Kgalema) Motlanthe Commission Report recommendations. This runs counter to the spirit and substance of reengagement. These sovereign processes must be allowed to conclude.”

-Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Shepherd Gwenzi

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on 2 August 2019 summoned the ambassador of the United States of America to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Brian Nichols,” according to a government statement.     “He met the secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador James Manzou. The purpose of the summons was to express the displeasure of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe over the public designation of His Excellency Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe…”

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