President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has announced the suspension of all tariffs on goods imported from the United States in a move he says is aimed at “building a positive relationship” with President Donald Trump’s administration just days after Trump slapped a punishing 18% tariff on Zimbabwean exports to America.
The announcement made by Mnangagwa during a press briefing at State House in Harare, has sparked shockwaves across the Southern African region and left political analysts scratching their heads.
“We believe in engagement, not isolation,” Mnangagwa stated. “This decision is in the spirit of re-engagement and mutual benefit. Zimbabwe cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history or economics.”
The move puts Emmerson Mnangagwa, leader of a nation struggling with hyperinflation, currency instability and sanctions against Donald Trump who returned to the White House earlier this year with a bold “America First, Again” trade agenda.
Trump’s tariff bombshell blindsided Zimbabwe targeting tobacco, minerals and textiles sectors already limping under local economic pressure.
The decision resonates beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. Trade officials across SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are watching closely, wondering if this sets a dangerous precedent for how smaller nations deal with global powerhouses.
Economic analysts warn the move may undermine regional solidarity especially as Africa pushes for fairer trade with the West.
Sources inside Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the suspension of tariffs is a calculated gamble a bid to warm ties with Washington in hopes of sanctions relief, increased foreign direct investment and possibly even an invitation to Trump’s rumored “Africa Trade Summit” scheduled for later this year.
“This is not diplomacy, it’s desperation,” said Harare-based political economist Tawanda Moyo. “You don’t reward aggression with generosity. Mnangagwa has blinked first and the world is watching.”
Zimbabwe’s customs and tax authorities have been instructed to immediately halt all duty charges on American imports from machinery to cosmetics. Business groups welcomed the announcement cautiously saying cheaper imports could ease local production costs but warn that local industries may drown under a flood of U.S. goods.
Whether this will melt the cold U.S.-Zimbabwe relations is unclear. But for now, Mnangagwa has taken a diplomatic knee betting that a soft hand can tame a hardliner.
