The selection of Zimbabwe to receive the jabs from the U.S. is part of its existing health programmes and not related to sanctions. However, the US is still targeting Zimbabwe through sanctions.
This X post claiming Zimbabwe is receiving anti-retroviral jabs because sanctions are gone is PARTLY FALSE.
“The U.S. government has made Zimbabwe one of only ten countries that will receive its six-month anti-retroviral jab. This proves without doubt that sanctions are gone for sure in Zimbabwe. Thanks to ZASM and other anti-sanctions movements, millions of Zimbabwean lives are being saved,” reads the post.
The claim comes after the US embassy in Harare announced that Zimbabwe was one of the few recipients of the lenacapavir, a drug to fight HIV.
“Yes Zimbabwe, it’s happening! We are excited to announce that Zimbabwe was selected as one of the ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a breakthrough development in the fight against HIV. For decades, we’ve fought to turn the tide against this epidemic, and each day we get closer,” US embassy in Harare said in part.
What of sanctions?
The U.S Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA), popularly known as ‘sanctions’ on Zimbabwe, was signed into law in 2001 by President George W Bush. The law targets individuals and companies in Zimbabwe.
In the past 24 years, there have been various amendments to the status of the sanctioned members or organisations on the sanctions list. Some were removed on account of death or improved conduct on human rights. This has been done through various executive orders.
On 4 March 2024, the U.S. government terminated the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program and designated 11 individuals and three companies, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, under its Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (GloMag).
Sanctions against the targeted people, as the US has maintained since 2001, remain in place, though recently the US House of Representatives passed a motion to start a process for the termination of ZIDERA.
Has Zimbabwe received health intervention support from the US while under sanctions? Yes!
The Besana Mail – Zim Truth Radar found that Zimbabwe has been receiving support from the US government on health interventions despite the sanctions. Two years after the enactment of ZIDERA, President George W Bush launched the PEPFAR Programme in 2003 to support the global fight against HIV. Zimbabwe was one of the beneficiaries.
The Besana Mail – Zim Truth Radar examined a X post claiming Zimbabwe is receiving Anti-retroviral jabs because sanctions are gone and found it to be PARTLY FALSE.
This fact-check was produced by The Besana Mail, Zim Truth Radar as part of the African Fact-Checking Alliance’s (AFCA) incubation programme. It was produced with peer-mentorship from Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, PesaCheck, with financial support from Norway. AFCA mentorship respects the journalistic independence of the researchers, offering access to advanced techniques and tools. Editorial decision-making remains with The Besana Mail, Zim Truth Radar. Want to learn more? Visit: https://factcheck.africa/
