Zimbabwe's defense minister has called coronavirus a "punishment" to the US and Europe for imposing sanctions on her country.

"Coronavirus is the work of god punishing countries who imposed sanctions on us," Oppah Muchinguri said at a rally in the northern town of Chinhoyi on Saturday.

The US and EU imposed financial and travel restrictions against individuals and companies for what they say is a lack of progress in democratic and human rights reforms as well as restrictions on press freedoms.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is one of the people targeted by the US sanctions.

"They are now staying indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to our economy."

She said the virus would teach US President Donald Trump that "he is not God".

"They must feel the effects of coronavirus and understand our pain," she said.

There are 167,860 coronavirus cases worldwide but Zimbabwe has not yet detected any cases.