OFAC has added the following individuals:
CHIMUKA, Obey, 25 Northolt Bluffhill, Harare, Zimbabwe; DOB 15 Jan 1975; POB Makoni, Zimbabwe; nationality Zimbabwe; citizen Zimbabwe; Gender Male; Passport EN899508 (Zimbabwe) expires 15 Mar 2026; National ID No. 58158115R42 (Zimbabwe) (individual) [ZIMBABWE] (Linked To: TAGWIREI, Kudakwashe Regimond; Linked To: FOSSIL AGRO; Linked To: FOSSIL CONTRACTING).
MAGWIZI, Nqobile, Unwinsdale Dr., Corner Luna Road, Plot 134, Harare, Zimbabwe; DOB 22 Jan 1979; POB Gokwe, Zimbabwe; nationality Zimbabwe; citizen Zimbabwe; Gender Male; Passport FN557746 (Zimbabwe) expires 19 Feb 2028; National ID No. 6310449T26 (Zimbabwe); Project Coordinator Sakunda Holdings (individual) [ZIMBABWE] (Linked To: SAKUNDA HOLDINGS).
MNANGAGWA, JR., Emmerson Dambudzo, 41 Dacomb Drive, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe; DOB 20 Dec 1984; POB Harare, Zimbabwe; nationality Zimbabwe; citizen Zimbabwe; Gender Male; Passport AD005865 (Zimbabwe) expires 25 Feb 2023; National ID No. 632149596A67 (Zimbabwe) (individual) [ZIMBABWE] (Linked To: MNANGAGWA, Emmerson Dambudzo).
MPUNGA, Sandra, 4 Luna Road, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe; DOB 19 Nov 1971; POB Mutasa, Zimbabwe; nationality Zimbabwe; citizen Zimbabwe; Gender Female; Passport DN056388 (Zimbabwe) expires 16 Oct 2022; National ID No. 63846615T50 (Zimbabwe) (individual) [ZIMBABWE] (Linked To: TAGWIREI, Kudakwashe Regimond).
and entities:
FOSSIL AGRO (a.k.a. FOSSIL AGRO (PRIVATE) LIMITED), 42 McChlery Avenue, Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe; 521 Access Road, Msasa Industrial Area, Harare, Zimbabwe; Website https://fossilagro.com/; Organization Type: Post-harvest crop activities [ZIMBABWE].
FOSSIL CONTRACTING, 5 Loreley Crescent, Harare, Zimbabwe; 5 Loreley Close, Beverly, Msasa, Harare, Zimbabwe; Website https://www.fossilcontracting.org/; Organization Established Date 01 Jan 2010; Organization Type: Construction of other civil engineering projects; Business Number 200114146 (Zimbabwe); Registration Number 5268/2011 (Zimbabwe) [ZIMBABWE].
to its Zimbabwe sanctions program, and removed the following:
BEKTAS, Halis; DOB 13 Feb 1966; citizen Switzerland; Passport X0906223 (Switzerland) (individual) [SYRIA] [FSE-SY].
RIXO INTERNATIONAL TRADING LTD., Lindenstrasse 2, Baar 6340, Switzerland; Website http://www.rixointernational.com [SYRIA] [FSE-SY].
BAHREINI, Amir Hossein (Arabic: امیر حسین بحرینی), Tehran, Iran; DOB 21 Sep 1973; POB Tehran, Iran; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Executive Order 13846 information: FOREIGN EXCHANGE. Sec. 5(a)(ii); alt. Executive Order 13846 information: BANKING TRANSACTIONS. Sec. 5(a)(iii); alt. Executive Order 13846 information: BLOCKING PROPERTY AND INTERESTS IN PROPERTY. Sec. 5(a)(iv); alt. Executive Order 13846 information: IMPORT SANCTIONS. Sec. 5(a)(vi); National ID No. 0068653263 (Iran); Managing Director of Arya Sasol Polymer; CEO of Arya Sasol Polymer (individual) [IRAN-EO13846] (Linked To: ARYA SASOL POLYMER).
BUKA, Flora; DOB 25 Feb 1968; Minister of State for Special Affairs, Land and Resettlement Program (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
CHOMBO, Ignatius Morgan; DOB 01 Aug 1952; Passport AD000500 (Zimbabwe); Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
GOCHE, Nicholas Tasunungurwa; DOB 01 Aug 1946; Minister of Public Works, Labour and Social Welfare (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
GUMBO, Aleck Rugare Ngidi, Montrolse Farm, PO Box 1175, Gweru, Zimbabwe; DOB 08 Mar 1940; Minister of Economic Development (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
MACHAYA, Jaison Max Kokerai; DOB 13 Jun 1952; Member of Parliament for Gokwe Kana (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
MARUMAHOKO, Rueben, 11 Douglas Clark Avenue, The Grange, Harare, Zimbabwe; DOB 04 Apr 1948; Deputy Minister for Home Affairs (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
MURERWA, Herbert Muchemwa; DOB 31 Jul 1941; Passport AD001167 (Zimbabwe); Minister of Finance (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
MUTIWEKUZIVA, Kenneth Keparadza; DOB 27 May 1948; Deputy Minister for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
CHAPFIKA, David; DOB 07 Apr 1957; Passport ZL037165 (Zimbabwe); Deputy Minister of Finance (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
CHIHOTA, Phineas; DOB 23 Nov 1950; Deputy Minister of Industry and International Trade (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
CHINAMASA, Gamuchirai, 2 Honeybear Lane, Borrowdale, Zimbabwe; DOB 11 Nov 1991; Passport AN634603 (Zimbabwe); Child of Patrick Chinamasa (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
DAMASANE, Abigail; DOB 27 May 1952; Deputy Minister for Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
LANGA, Andrew; DOB 13 Jan 1965; Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
MURERWA, Ruth Chipo, 321 Ard-Na-Lea Close, Glen Lorne, Chisipite, Zimbabwe; DOB 27 Jul 1947; Passport AD001244 (Zimbabwe) expires 19 Aug 2009; Spouse of Herbert Murerwa (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
SIBANDA, Levy; Deputy Police Commissioner (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
GONO, Hellin Mushanyuri; DOB 06 May 1962; Passport AN548299 (Zimbabwe); Spouse of Gideon Gono (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
CHIMUTENGWENDE, Chenhamo Chakezha Chen; DOB 28 Aug 1943; Passport ZD001423 (Zimbabwe); alt. Passport AN288614 (Zimbabwe); Minister of State for Public and Interactive Affairs (individual) [ZIMBABWE].
from the SDN list under a number of different programs. It also updated the following individual North Korea sanctions designation:
CHOL, Kim Myong (a.k.a. MYO'NG-CH'O'L, Kim), Paris, France; DOB 12 May 1972; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: North Korea Sanctions Regulations, sections 510.201 and 510.210; Transactions Prohibited For Persons Owned or Controlled By U.S. Financial Institutions: North Korea Sanctions Regulations section 510.214; Passport 836210080 (Korea, North) expires 14 May 2021 (individual) [DPRK3] (Linked To: SEK STUDIO). -to- KIM, Myong Chol (a.k.a. KIM, Myo'ng-Ch'o'l), Paris, France; DOB 12 May 1972; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: North Korea Sanctions Regulations, sections 510.201 and 510.210; Transactions Prohibited For Persons Owned or Controlled By U.S. Financial Institutions: North Korea Sanctions Regulations section 510.214; Passport 836210080 (Korea, North) expires 14 May 2021 (individual) [DPRK3] (Linked To: SEK STUDIO).
Additionally, the following was removed from the Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) list, as part of the Syria-linked part of its designation authority:
BEKTAS, Halis; DOB 13 Feb 1966; citizen Switzerland; Passport X0906223 (Switzerland) (individual) [SYRIA] [FSE-SY].
RIXO INTERNATIONAL TRADING LTD., Lindenstrasse 2, Baar 6340, Switzerland; Website http://www.rixointernational.com [SYRIA] [FSE-SY].
And there was a press release:
PRESS RELEASES
Treasury Takes Additional Actions in Zimbabwe
December 12, 2022
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four Zimbabwean individuals and two Zimbabwean entities, and removed seventeen Zimbabweans from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).
The Zimbabwe sanctions program targets human rights abusers and those who undermine democratic processes or facilitate corruption. U.S. sanctions do not target the Zimbabwean people, the country of Zimbabwe, or Zimbabwe’s banking sector.
“We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian E. Nelson. “The goal of sanctions is behavior change. Today’s actions demonstrate our support for a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Today, OFAC designated Sandra Mpunga, Nqobile Magwizi, Fossil Agro, Fossil Contracting, and Obey Chimuka, for their ties to the previously designated individual Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his company, Sakunda Holdings. OFAC designated Tagwirei in August 2020 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, the Government of Zimbabwe; and Sakunda for being owned or controlled by Tagwirei. Tagwirei has utilized his relationships with high-level Zimbabwean officials to gain state contracts and receive favored access to hard currency, including U.S. dollars. In turn, Tagwirei has provided high priced items, such as expensive cars, to senior-level Zimbabwean government officials. Since former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s 2017 departure, Tagwirei used a combination of opaque business dealings and his ongoing relationship with President Mnangagwa to grow his business empire dramatically and rake in millions of U.S. dollars.
OFAC is also designating Emmerson Mnangagwa, Jr., the son of President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
Sandra Mpunga is Tagwirei’s wife. Together they created Sakunda, which is a neologism of Sandra and Tagwirei’s abbreviated first name, “Kuda”. Mpunga has served as the executive director of Sakunda and together with Tagwirei is the sole beneficial owner of the company. Mpunga was designated pursuant to E.O. 13469 for being the spouse of Tagwirei.
Magwizi has served as the chief marketing and public relations officer of Sakunda as well as Mpunga’s executive assistant. In the spring of 2022, Magwizi was serving as a project coordinator for Sakunda. Nqobile Magwizi was designated pursuant to E.O. 13469 for acting for or behalf of Sakunda.
Fossil Agro has supplied the Government of Zimbabwe’s Command Agriculture Program, a state farm subsidy largely financed by Sakunda which has failed to account for billions of dollars in disbursements. The Government of Zimbabwe awarded Fossil Contracting nearly $40 million in contracts in 2021. Fossil Agro and Fossil Contracting were designated pursuant to E.O. 13469 for providing material, logistical, or technical support to the Government of Zimbabwe.
Chimuka owns Fossil Contracting and is also its director and is the CEO and director of Fossil Agro. Chimuka is a longtime business partner of Tagwirei and is considered part of Tagwirei’s inner circle. Chimuka also sits on the board and serves as director of several of Tagwirei’s companies. Obey Chimuka was designated pursuant to E.O. 13469 for acting for or on behalf of Fossil Agro, Fossil Contracting, and Tagwirei.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, Jr. is President Mnangagwa’s son and has been in charge of the president’s business interests related to Tagwirei. Mnangagwa, Jr. was designated pursuant to E.O. 13391 for being an immediate family member of the Zimbabwean president and OFAC-blocked Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Additionally, OFAC has determined that the seventeen individuals being removed from the SDN list no longer undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes and institutions or meet any of the other criteria for designation under OFAC’s Zimbabwe sanctions program. Each year, the U.S. Government removes hundreds of individuals and entities from the SDN List. Each removal is based on a thorough review in order to maintain the integrity of U.S. sanctions.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more in the aggregate by one or more of such persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons are prohibited, unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from the ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also the willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.
U.S. Treasury Department Press Release
from the Treasury Department about the Zimbabwe changes.
Link:
Press Releases – Treasury