By Own Correspondent- The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Matthew Harrington has said that the Zimbabwean government must reform for sanctions to be lifted. The diplomat specifically identified the use of the security sector to intimidate citizens and the media and repressive laws as major issues to be dealt with.

Speaking at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Harrington said that the removal of sanctions depended upon Zimbabwe.

Harrington said:

“Any goodwill from the international community that might have been generated by an improved election process dissipated as a result of several problematic developments.

In addition, in January and February (2019) the army launched a sustained crackdown on citizens in response to their protests over fuel price increases. We welcome a better relationship with Zimbabwe, but the ball is very much in the Zimbabwean government’s court. If there’s real, concrete progress in the areas laid out in the ZIDERA legislation Zimbabwe will find a committed partner in the United States.”