Anjin challenges diamond shut down

By Fidelis Munyoro and Daniel Nemukuyu

Anjin Investments Private Limited said the recent forced shut down of its diamond mining operations and eviction from the mining site in Chiadzwa was a breach of the Chinese shareholders’ rights protected in terms of the Agreement on the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Governments of Zimbabwe and China.

In an urgent chamber application filed at the High Court on Wednesday, Anjin argued that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the police did not follow due process in evicting the company from Chiadzwa and that in terms of the agreement signed by the two countries, such conduct was unacceptable.

This comes as Government was on Wednesday allowed to lead evidence to show why it was impossible to comply with a court order for Mbada Diamond Private Limited’s personnel to return to Chiadzwa to secure its diamonds and equipment pending determination of the dispute between the firm’s Mauritius-based shareholder, Grandwell Holdings and the Government of Zimbabwe.

Government said certain security checks needed to be done on Mbada personnel before they were allowed back at the site.