US Court Dismisses Mauritian Firms’ $93m Claim Aga...

US Court Dismisses Mauritian Firms’ $93m Claim Against Zim’s State Miner

Zim Now Writer

A United States court has dismissed a high-profile case brought by two Mauritian companies seeking to enforce a long-standing arbitration award against Zimbabwe’s state-owned mining firm, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter brought by Amaplat Mauritius Ltd. and Amari Nickel Ltd., effectively blocking the companies’ attempt to compel ZMDC to settle the nearly decade-old arbitration award.

The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Zimbabwe, which had challenged the attempt to pursue enforcement of the award on U.S. soil.

The dispute traces back to a failed joint venture agreement between ZMDC and the Mauritian firms to develop nickel and platinum resources in Zimbabwe.

ln 2014, the International Court of Arbitration in Zambia ruled in favor of the Mauritian companies, ordering ZMDC to pay Amaplat $42.9 million and Amari $3.9 million, with 5% annual interest, for unlawfully cancelling the deal. With accumulated interest, the amount owed had grown to approximately $93 million.

Despite a 2019 ruling by the Zambian High Court allowing the companies to enforce the arbitration award and potentially seize ZMDC’s assets, Zimbabwean authorities resisted payment, prompting the firms to seek enforcement in the United States.

However, the U.S. court concluded it had no jurisdiction over the matter, ending the companies’ bid to secure payment through American legal channels.

Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Mines and Mining Development, Pfungwa Kunaka, welcomed the court’s decision, saying it reaffirmed the country’s legal position. “We are pleased with this outcome. It shows the importance of respecting jurisdictional boundaries and national sovereignty,” Kunaka said.