The Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre

The Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion through the Banking (Victoria Falls Financial Services Centre) (Arbitration) Regulations, 2026 established the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre.

The Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre is the first statutorily enacted arbitration centre in Zimbabwe. It is also the first arbitration centre within an international financial services centre in Zimbabwe. It is headed by a Registrar who is responsible for constituting the arbitral tribunal and the appeals tribunal, maintaining a register of potential arbitrators and case management of administered cases before the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre.

In terms of section 5(2) of the Banking (Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre) (Arbitration) Regulations, 2026 the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre (“VFIAC”) provides the following services:

• Exclusive administration of arbitration governed by the Banking (Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre) (Arbitration) Regulations, 2026, subject to agreement of the parties to a case, and such rules to include procedures for expedited arbitration, the appointment of emergency arbitrators, and the resolution of investment treaty disputes;
• Other forms of alternative dispute resolution are subject to the agreement of the parties to a case;
• To assist with the appointment of arbitrators and mediators to arbitrations and mediations conducted at the VFIAC; and
• State of the art administrative facilities, including conference, meeting, and hearing rooms at its premises.