In 2002, EU imposed sanctions on members of the Zimbabwean African National Union, the dominant political party in Zimbabwe, with Germany's support.

"[2] German-Zimbabwean relations thawed in 2009 when Zimbabwean Prime Minister Tsvangirai visited Germany to discuss easing sanctions on Zimbabwe.

The EU lifted sanctions on Zimbabwe's political leaders and allowed visas to Europe later that year.

[4] After the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état, Germany's development minister Gurd Mueller visited Zimbabwe to discuss bringing aid and economic development if President Mnangagwa agreed to political and economic reforms to build democratic structures in Zimbabwe and correct human right violations that happened under Mugabe.

[5] In 2021, Germany provided 3 Million Euros to a United Nationals World Food Programme project for Zimbabwe.