What is the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre?

The objectives of the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre are to obtain the fair resolution of disputes within the Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre by providing an impartial tribunal and without unnecessary delay or expenses.

The Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre is an important financial services arbitral centre in Southern Africa. It was established in a Special Economic Zone ("SEZ") in Masuwe, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It is the first statutorily enacted arbitration centre in Zimbabwe and also the first arbitration centre to be created within an international financial services centre in Zimbabwe.

The Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre is headed by a Registrar and its state-of-the-art premises once established will be known as "The Arbitration Centre Chambers". Its intended arbitration and mediation rules in terms of section 9 of the Banking (Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre) (Arbitration) Regulations, 2026 once promulgated by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion will be known as "The International Arbitration Centre Arbitration and Mediation Rules".

In terms of section 4 of the Banking (Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre) (Arbitration) Regulations, 2026 parties are free to agree on how their disputes are to be resolved, subject only to such safeguards as are necessary in the public interest.

An arbitral tribunal appointed by the Registrar of the Victoria Falls International Arbitration Centre has an obligation to take into account the international origin of arbitration and the need to promote uniformity in its application and the observance of good faith. see Davison Kanokanga & Prince Kanokanga, UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration: A Commentary on the Zimbabwean Arbitration Act [Chapter 7:15] (Juta & Co, Cape Town, 2022) at 11 - 13.