EXPLOSIVE WARNING: MLISWA’S IRAN TRADE JAUNT PUTS ZIMBABWE ON THE CROSS HAIRS OF THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION
TEHRAN — Former Zimbabwean legislator Temba Mliswa’s announcement of memoranda of understanding with Iranian firms for discounted tractors and mining collaboration has intensified debate over potential exposure to U.S. sanctions and tariff measures, with activist Rutendo Matinyarare warning that the trip endangers the government’s 2030 plans.
Mliswa, who has described himself as leading a business delegation, said Thursday from Tehran that his group signed MoUs with TASICO (Transport and Specialized Infrastructure Company) and Tamin Investment Company.
The agreements cover the supply of tractors at discounted prices for Zimbabwean agriculture and small-scale mining, as well as cooperation on mining exploration, exploitation of high-value minerals, and value addition.
The United States maintains broad sanctions on Iran targeting its energy, banking, and other sectors, with secondary sanctions that can affect third-country entities.
Reports and earlier comments by Mliswa have referenced a U.S. measure imposing a 25 percent tariff on countries doing business with Iran.
Zimbabwe has simultaneously pursued re-engagement with Western partners while expanding South-South ties, including multiple prior MoUs with Iran under a Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
In a video posted on X on October 27, Matinyarare, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, stated that “2030” is “put at risk by Temba going to negotiate trade with Iran.”
He added that a coup is not likely in Zimbabwe, but “a Sudan style uprising by civilians or Arab Spring remains a prospect if our government does not consider public interest over the interests of a few rich and wealthy individuals.”
On-screen captions in the video repeated the claims that the 2030 agenda is in jeopardy after the Iran talks and that an Arab Spring-style uprising is more likely than a coup.
Mliswa holds no current government position. He is a former independent MP for Norton and past ZANU-PF official.
Replies to his posts have questioned the capacity in which the delegation is operating, while some responses to Matinyarare argued that the trip was private and should not be linked to official re-engagement efforts.
Zimbabwean authorities have not publicly confirmed the MoUs as government agreements.
No independently verified evidence has linked the delegation to transactions involving specially designated Iranian military entities or other restricted activities.
U.S. sanctions do not automatically bar all commercial contact with Iran, though compliance risks for banks and companies can arise depending on the nature of the dealings.
Implementation details of the announced MoUs, including volumes, financing, and specific Zimbabwean partners, were not provided in Mliswa’s post.
The developments come as Zimbabwe continues efforts to increase trade with Iran in agriculture, mining, and related sectors.