Lithuania grabs 17 Zimbabwe fire tenders during shipment from sanctioned Belarus
Zimbabwe almost giving up on seeking their release as Lithuania digs in
Seventeen fire tenders acquired from Belarus by the Zimbabwe government on behalf of local authorities here have been gathering dust in Lithuania after they were seized during shipment in 2021 by the tiny European country over sanctions.
The trucks, supplied by a company called Red Lion, were sourced under then local government minister July Moyo’s ministry at highly inflated prices in a controversial deal that was dismissed as a giant fraud by Zimbabwe’s opposition.
They were being delivered through Lithuania to a port on the Baltic Sea from landlocked Belarus when they were seized.
Belarus has been under European Union sanctions since 2020 over human rights abuses under its leader Alexander Lukashenko’s iron fisted rule.
According to ZimLive, diplomatic efforts by the Zimbabwean government to have the trucks released have all hit a brick wall as Lithuania has stood its grounds.
It is reported that Zimbabwe’s attorney general Virginia Mabhiza flew to Lithuania earlier this year to try and secure the release of the trucks but came back empty handed.
Information secretary Nick Mangwana confirmed the trucks were seized adding that the Zimbabwean government has not given up attempts to have the trucks released.
“We eagerly await the release of the fire tenders,” Mangwana was quoted saying.
“These fire engines will be critical in supporting firefighting operations, protecting life and property as well as preserving Zimbabwe’s world heritage sites and the crucial crops that defied the devastating drought.”
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Sweden, Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, who also oversees Lithuania, Finland, Denmark and Norway, is reported to have also tried to engage authorities in Lithuania to have the trucks released.
