US sanctions

US lobbying: Zimbabwe demands sanctions removal

In depth

This article is part of the dossier: Africa’s Top 10 lobbying operations in Washington, D.C

By Julian Pecquet

Posted on Thursday, 17 February 2022 11:41, updated on Wednesday, 23 February 2022 16:02

Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa addresses the media at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday, March, 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe passed away more than two years ago. The new government thinks it’s high time the human rights sanctions imposed decades ago, during his regime, are removed.

In September 2019, the ministry of foreign affairs and international trade hired the London-based subsidiary of US lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs to lobby for a fresh start under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

At the end of 2021, the contract that is worth $90,000 per month was taken over by a new firm, Actum International UK. However, Mercury’s US-based team remains registered to lobby on the account. The team includes former Senator David Vitter (a Republican from Louisiana) and former congressman Toby Moffett (a Democrat from Connecticut).

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