The US State Department announced on Friday that it had credible information on Mr Ncube's role in "state-sanctioned violence against peaceful protesters, and civil society, as well as against labour leaders and members of the opposition leaders in Zimbabwe".

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about the decision:

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1187867986931134465

The sanctions were announced as President Emmerson Mnangagwa led the country in an anti-sanctions march in the capital, Harare.

The Zimbabwean government says the sanctions have cost the country billions of dollars in lost revenue as it battles shortages of basic supplies such as fuel, power and water.

The sanctions were imposed since 2001 on top members of the ruling Zanu-PF party and the military.

Minister of Information and Publicity Nick Mangwana told the Herald newspaper that the sanctions against his cabinet colleague are "a form of arbitrary justice".

"The US brands itself a fair country but everything we have seen regarding the sanctions issue has been nothing but obstinate arrogance. I advise anyone to check minister Owen Ncube's travel history and see whether the US has ever been part of his prime destinations," Mr Mangwana is quoted as saying.

The Southern African Development Community, a 16-member regional bloc, has urged the US and EU to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe.