Zimbabwe to Seek Legal Redress Over Seized Lithuanian Fire Tenders

Zimbabwe is preparing to take legal action against the Lithuanian government after 17 fire trucks purchased for local authorities were seized and subsequently auctioned while being transported from Belarus to Harare.

The multimillion-dollar shipment was intercepted at Klaipeda port in March 2023. Lithuanian prosecutors later ordered the forfeiture in July 2024, citing European Union sanctions targeting specific Belarusian companies under Council Regulation EC No 765/2006.

Despite Zimbabwe’s insistence that the purchase was legitimate and unrelated to sanctioned entities, Lithuanian courts upheld the seizure and disposal of the vehicles.

Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza told The Herald that Zimbabwe intends to claim damages after pre-trial investigations in Lithuania were concluded.

“Not all remedies have been exhausted regarding the 17 fire tenders; only the pre-trial investigations have been completed. Unfortunately, Lithuanian authorities went ahead with selling the trucks through public tenders despite Zimbabwe’s objections. The next step is to seek compensation for the Republic of Zimbabwe’s losses,” Mabiza said.

Mabiza emphasised that Zimbabwe remains confident of securing compensation, framing the seizure as a breach of its property rights under domestic and international law.

“Our stance has always been that Zimbabwe was an innocent third party and the lawful owner of the fire tenders, which were acquired transparently for public service delivery. The arguments presented challenged the prosecutor’s decision to sell the vehicles, highlighting that the seizure and disposal violated both Lithuanian and international property rights law. We are confident in our case, and Lithuanian law provides for strict state liability in instances of unlawful seizure or disposal, which strengthens our claim for compensation,” she said.

In addition to pursuing civil claims in Lithuania, the Zimbabwean government is evaluating international legal avenues should local efforts fail. Potential options include arbitration through the World Trade Organization, appeals to the European Court of Human Rights, or proceedings at the United Nations.

Officials also noted that Zimbabwe is reviewing procurement processes to prevent future incidents, ensuring public acquisitions are not exposed to indirect sanction risks.