China has urged Western countries, particularly the United States, to lift their longstanding sanctions on Zimbabwe. Speaking at a routine press briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent appeal for the removal of what he termed “unwarranted” and “cruel sanctions” by the U.S. and its allies.
Lin highlighted the Anti-Sanctions Day initiative established by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2019, which designated October 25 as a day to protest sanctions on Zimbabwe. He noted that Zimbabwe, as the current SADC chair, is holding events to mark the initiative’s fifth anniversary and stressed that these sanctions, imposed for over 20 years, threaten Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, disrupt regional cooperation, and undermine fair international practices.
Reaffirming China’s support for Zimbabwe’s independence and development, Lin called on Western countries to end the sanctions promptly and take meaningful action to assist the country’s economic growth. He reiterated China’s commitment to working with African nations and the global community to support Zimbabwe’s stability, development, and sovereignty.
The United States has enforced sanctions on Zimbabwe since the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, citing human rights abuses and corruption. In March, it extended these sanctions to 11 Zimbabwean officials, including President Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, under the Global Magnitsky Act.
