The United Kingdom has lifted sanctions on four Zimbabwean individuals, Owen Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, and Anselem Sanyatwe, as well as the state-owned entity Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI).
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) announced the delisting in a statement published on Tuesday, 27 May 2025. The statement reads:
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 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 “Mudha” Ncube is currently the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, a post he assumed in September 2023.
He previously served as Minister of State for National Security from 2017 to 2022, a tenure marked by controversy.
During the January 2019 protests against fuel price hikes, Ncube ordered an internet shutdown as security forces cracked down on demonstrators.
Isaac Moyo served as Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from December 2017 to January 2025.
Before that, he was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho, appointed in 2014 under the late President Robert Mugabe.
In February 2021, the UK imposed sanctions on Moyo, citing alleged human rights abuses related to state crackdowns on protests.
Godwin Tandabantu Matanga was the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) from December 2017 to December 2024.
A veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, Matanga received military training in Romania and Egypt and played a central role in the country’s post-independence security establishment.
Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, now serving as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, previously held the position of Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army between October 2023 and March 2025.
He also commanded the Presidential Guard and was directly involved in the events of 1 August 2018, when security forces opened fire on post-election protesters in central Harare, killing several unarmed civilians.
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