The Constitutional Court has thrown a multi-million-dollar lifeline to the state-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), granting it direct access to challenge a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a massive US$10.7 million judgment against the miner.
The decision by Constitutional Court Justice Rita Makarau halts a pending asset execution that had threatened the state diamond entity’s financial stability over a decade-long contractual dispute with local contractor Adlecraft Investments.
The legal battle dates back to February 8, 2016, when ZCDC contracted Adlecraft Investments to provide diamond mining and haulage services in the Chiadzwa diamond fields. Adlecraft later sued the state miner for outstanding operational fees, initially claiming US$13.34 million.
The High Court previously ruled in favor of Adlecraft, ordering ZCDC to pay US$10.7 million plus punitive costs and a compounding 2% monthly interest rate. ZCDC appealed the decision, arguing that the court relied on fraudulent email evidence and improperly treated local currency payments as outstanding US dollar obligations.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed ZCDC’s appeal in June 2026, a move that ballooned the total executable debt, including interest and penalties toward US$18 million by August 2026.
In the latest apex court ruling, Justice Makarau ruled that ZCDC has a arguable constitutional case regarding a potential miscarriage of justice.
The Constitutional Court will now review whether the Supreme Court failed to properly assess evidence showing that ZCDC had already settled a US$4.34 million portion of the debt through historical local currency transfers.
The highest court will also determine whether Adlecraft’s multi-million-dollar claim had legally prescribed under statutory limitations before enforcement actions began.
A date for the full constitutional hearing is yet to be set by the registrar of the court.
