Embassy of the United States Harare, Zimbabwe

Fact: U.S. sanctions apply to fewer than 120 Zimbabwean individuals

Fact: After the U.S. government first applied targeted sanctions in 2003, bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and the U.S. doubled over the next five years.

Fact: Zimbabwe had stopped servicing its debts and was therefore unable to borrow from the World Bank and IMF before the U.S. imposed sanctions.

Download a condensed list (PDF 168KB) of entities subject to U.S. targeted sanctions related to Zimbabwe

Other entities, including companies and organizations, are also subject to sanctions.  The full list and further details on U.S. sanctions are available here (PDF 180KB)

Download data on trade between the U.S. and Zimbabwe (PDF 272KB)

Myth: "The U.S. maintains an embargo on Zimbabwe."

The reality is that Zimbabwe's trade with the U.S. is growing. In 2009 and 2010, annual U.S. goods exports to Zimbabwe were 30 percent higher than the 2000-08 average.

Myth: "The U.S. blocks Zimbabwe's access to multilateral loans."

In reality, Zimbabwe cannot borrow from the IMF, World Bank, or African Development Bank because it stopped servicing its debts to those institutions more than 10 years ago.

Myth: "ZDERA ruined Zimbabwe's economy."

The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 has had no effect on Zimbabwe's economy and is not related to targeted sanctions.  Read what ZDERA says (PDF 40KB)

Myth: "The U.S. has cut off aid to Zimbabwe."

The U.S. has provided over $1.4 billion in assistance to Zimbabwe since 2001.

If you want to ask us a question about U.S. sanctions policy, please send an e-mail to hararepas@state.gov