Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s troubled administration is sulking following the withdrawal of a Chinese investor from a coal deal.

Although the reasons for the Chinese bank’s withdrawal from the deal are unclear, economists say the regime’s flagrant disregard of human rights is blocking potential investors from coming to Zimbabwe.

Analysts further argue Zanu PF bigwigs are the real sanctions tormenting the country.

The Chinese bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) bank has abandoned a plan to finance a $3 billion (around R43 billion) coal-fired power plant in Zimbabwe.

“This is highly significant, obviously for Zimbabwe but also for Chinese overseas energy financing,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst for the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

“It is the first time, to my knowledge, that a Chinese bank has pro-actively walked away from a coal-power project.”