Zimbabwe has called out the United States of America for trying “to hide behind the finger” by describing its sanctions regime as merely restrictive measures.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday condemned the posturing after US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Tibor P Nagy, dismissed the outcry against the embargo as “a very false narrative”.

“This unacceptable statement is a public stunt by America and her cronies meant to demonstrate to other countries of the world that there was nothing wrong in what the United States was doing, but just a normal diplomatic way of handling a disagreement between two countries when in fact the sanctions are hurting even the innocent citizen in more ways than one,” said Minister Ziyambi.

The minister also lashed out at latest attempts by the US to stifle Zimbabwe’s diamond industry by alleging that they were being produced under exploitative conditions.

“I checked with the courts, police, ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). We don’t have any reports of child forced labour, particularly in Chiadzwa and also in other mining sectors,” he said.State media