Zimbabwe: Minister Claims Coronavirus is “Divine Punishment”
Zimbabwe’s defence minister, Oppah Muchinguri, has called the ongoing coronavirus pandemic a divine punishment on the US for imposing sanctions on members of the country’s cabinet.
The United States first imposed targeted sanctions on members of the Zimbabwean government for ongoing human rights abuses – such as voter intimidation and unlawful detention – in 2001.
The sanctions include travel bans and wide-ranging freezes on assets owned by those members of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front party.
Muchinguri was speaking during a rally in the town of Chinhoyi on Saturday, 14 March, when he made the claims.
He said: “Coronavirus is the work of God punishing countries who imposed sanctions on us.”
He added: “They are now staying indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to our economy.”
The viral pandemic has infected more than 150 000 people across the globe, and at time of writing, has killed approximately 6 000, since it was first detected in China last December.
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