Zimbabwe plans to sue Lithuania for compensation after authorities in that Baltic nation confiscated and sold 17 fire trucks valued at millions of dollars that were headed to Harare from Belarus. Lithuanian officials intercepted the firefighting equipment at Klaipeda port in March 2023 because the vehicles came from a Belarusian company under European Union sanctions. The country's appellate courts upheld the seizure decision in November 2024, and officials sold the trucks through public tender despite protests from Zimbabwe.
Attorney General Virginia Mabiza said the government will pursue civil damages under Lithuanian law after exhausting pre-trial investigative procedures. Harare maintains it was an innocent party that legally purchased the equipment from non-sanctioned entities. The seizure left Zimbabwean municipalities without critical emergency response equipment, and officials may escalate the dispute to international forums if domestic legal remedies fail. Zimbabwe could bring the case before the World Trade Organization, the European Court of Human Rights, or United Nations bodies.
Attorney General Virginia Mabiza said the government will pursue civil damages under Lithuanian law after exhausting pre-trial investigative procedures. Harare maintains it was an innocent party that legally purchased the equipment from non-sanctioned entities. The seizure left Zimbabwean municipalities without critical emergency response equipment, and officials may escalate the dispute to international forums if domestic legal remedies fail. Zimbabwe could bring the case before the World Trade Organization, the European Court of Human Rights, or United Nations bodies.
