HARARE – Supreme Court of Zimbabwe judge Justice Tendai Uchena has granted interim relief to ferrochrome producer ZIMASCO (Pvt) Ltd in its ongoing corporate rescue dispute, ordering controversial lawyer Wilson Manase to cease acting as the company’s corporate rescue practitioner pending a full appeal hearing.
The legal battle originated from a High Court interdict previously granted to ZIMASCO, which had barred Manase from assuming the role.
The dispute began when the High Court issued an interdict against Manase following an application by ZIMASCO.
Subsequently, Avim Investments, an entity linked to Shepherd Tundiya, lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court against this interdict, even though the initial order was specifically directed at Manase.
Despite not contesting the High Court interdict, Manase reportedly contacted ZIMASCO’s bank, demanding access to the company’s funds. He argued that Avim Investments’ appeal had effectively suspended the High Court’s ruling.
The bank resisted and brought the matter to ZIMASCO’s attention, who then filed an urgent chamber Application to the Supreme Court, for Avim Investment’s appeal to be heard urgently and for an interim relief for Manase to refrain from his conduct pending the hearing of the appeal.
The court ordered that Avim Investments’ appeal be scheduled for an urgent hearing.
The judge further granted interim relief, stipulating that until the appeal is decided, Manase “must refrain from asserting or holding himself out as corporate rescue practitioner for ZIMASCO.”
ZIMASCO has described Avim Investments’ appeal as an “opportunistic attempt to gain an opening to fraudulently access the assets and bank accounts” of the company.
ZIMASCO has further highlighted that two High Court orders issued by Justice Joel Mambara pertain to SINOSTEEL ZIMASCO (Pvt) Ltd, which ZIMASCO insists is a separate and unrelated entity. ZIMASCO has initiated a High Court application to address this misidentification.
The Chinese Embassy has also intervened, conveying its concerns to the Zimbabwean government regarding the security of its investment in ZIMASCO and urging resolute action to prevent any unlawful encroachment.
ZIMASCO has further lodged a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission against Justice Mambara, alleging judicial misconduct and accusing him of involvement in a fraudulent scheme aimed at seizing ZIMASCO’s assets.
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