Spouses and children of Mugabe cronies added to U.S. sanctions list

By Violet Gonda
24 November 2005

If you are a spouse or a child of one of Mugabe’s cronies, chances are your name was added to a list of targeted sanctions that were extended by the Bush administration on Wednesday.

The US government widened an original list of 77 people to 128 and 33 entities which are seen to be "hindering democratic reform in Zimbabwe." The list has always included Robert Mugabe, whose assets were frozen in March 2003.His entire cabinet is also on the travel ban.

Some of the notable names on the updated list include, Governor of the Reserve Bank Gideon Gono and his wife Hellin, Rudo Grace Charamba spouse of George Charamba, Patrick Chinamasa’s family which includes wife Monica and son Gamuchirai, the aggressive wife of the Defence Forces General Jocelyn Chiwenga and the Chairman of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission George Chiweshe.

Also new on the list are Ignatius Chombo’s two wives, Marian & Ever. Chombo’s alleged 3 rd wife Nannette Silukuni was not added. Commenting for the first time on SW Radio Africa, the Local Government Minister laughed off the sanctions saying they would not have any impact on him and his wife Marian. As for his other wife Ever, the Minister said, “That is a mistake...that data is incorrect. Ever has been gone for the last 20 years. She left 21 years ago while I was still a student in America and she is doing her own thing now and she is not involved in any political activities at all that I know of and they are just punishing her for nothing.” Chombo could not offer more information on his relationship with Nannette Silikuni, save to say, “these are just stories from people without information.”

A White House spokeswoman Dana Perino is quoted as saying, "There is still time for the government of Zimbabwe to avoid a further expansion of the sanctions list should it begin serious efforts to restore democratic norms and the rule of law."

The new additions to the censured list will be banned from business dealings with US citizens. Also under the new order US treasury secretaries and the state department will now be allowed to add to the list without a presidential order.

Perino said, "This action is not aimed at the people of Zimbabwe, but rather at those most responsible for their plight. The failed political and economic policies of the Robert Mugabe regime have succeeded in devastating Zimbabwe."

In a letter to US lawmakers US President Bush said "The government continues to suppress opposition groups and civil society, undermine the independent media, ignore decisions by its courts, and refuse to enter into meaningful negotiations with other political actors.”

Bush had already issued sanctions against Mugabe and 76 other officials two years ago but said deteriorating conditions in Zimbabwe had forced him to act again.

FULL LIST of those facing sanctions is here