United Kingdom – The United Kingdom government on Tuesday announced that it has removed sanctions on Zimbabwe’s former spy chief, Isaac Moyo, ex-senior army commander Anselem Sanyatwe and a military company with immediate effect.
”The UK announces the delisting of sanctions against individuals Owen Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, Anselem Sanyatwe, and the entity Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI),” the UK said in a statement.
”The revocations follow a similar move from the European Union in February 2025, when they delisted their last remaining entity (ZDI) whilst renewing their existing Zimbabwe sanctions framework. The US also removed a number of designations in March 2024.”
Owen Ncube is a serving Minister of State in the Midlands province.
Godwin Matanga is a former police commissioner general who was retired.
Moyo (on main picture) was retired from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) where he was the director general.
Sanyatwe, a former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander is now a Sports Minister. He is also a former presidential guard commander and ex-ambassador.
The UK had imposed sanctions on the four officials for serious human rights violations.
The violations included the killing of six people by soldiers in post election violence of August 1, 2018.
Another protest in January 2019 resulted in the Zimbabwe security apparatus killing protesters.
Zimbabwe and the UK have been trying to mend bad relations of the past two decades.
Last week in Men’s cricket match England won by an innings and 45 runs in the historic Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
England has said it will likely tour Zimbabwe in the future.