A federal appeals court rejected efforts by two Mauritian firms to collect a multimillion-dollar arbitration award from Zimbabwe's state mining company. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the dispute between Amaplat Mauritius Ltd., Amari Nickel, and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. The companies had sought American legal intervention after ZMDC refused to honor previous rulings. The firms won their case through international arbitration proceedings but faced enforcement challenges. Zimbabwe's mining secretary praised the American court's decision to dismiss the lawsuit.
The original dispute stemmed from a cancelled mining partnership for nickel and platinum extraction in Zimbabwe. International arbitrators in Zambia awarded Amaplat $42.9 million and Amari $3.9 million in 2014, with annual interest at five percent. The debt has grown to $93 million over the past decade. Zambian courts previously authorized the companies to seize ZMDC assets to satisfy the judgment. The American dismissal represents a significant victory for Zimbabwe's state-controlled mining operations.
The original dispute stemmed from a cancelled mining partnership for nickel and platinum extraction in Zimbabwe. International arbitrators in Zambia awarded Amaplat $42.9 million and Amari $3.9 million in 2014, with annual interest at five percent. The debt has grown to $93 million over the past decade. Zambian courts previously authorized the companies to seize ZMDC assets to satisfy the judgment. The American dismissal represents a significant victory for Zimbabwe's state-controlled mining operations.
