$45 million Zimbabwe cash seized by Belgium

About $45 million in diamond revenue was on Friday seized in Belgium after it had been granted an interim order against President Robert Mugabe's cash strapped government over a cancelled platinum concession.

This comes after Amari Platinum Holdings ltd had taken the crisis ridden administration to the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) with a $500 million suit and Harare risks losing more assets and cash to global creditors taking advantage of its decision to transact in hostile jurisdictions.

Although government officials and other backers were hopeful of overturning the ex parte ruling on the basis that it had been given against funds belonging to private players, Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa's decision to sell diamonds in Antwerp had created fertile grounds for a new battle or turf wars in Zanu-PF and cabinet.

Mbada diamonds Chair in January urged government to stop selling diamonds in Antwerp.