US court orders Zimbabwe to pay US$270m

A US court ordered Zimbabwe to pay US$270 million in compensation to the von Pezold family, which lost its farm, forestry, and timber company during the Land Reform Programme. The ruling came in a case brought in 2010 by the family along with Border Timbers and Hagani Development Company. The judgment is enforceable in US jurisdiction, creating a significant financial liability for Zimbabwe. The government has not yet indicated whether it will appeal or contest the ruling. The compensation order adds to Zimbabwe's external debt burden and complicates its re-engagement with international creditors.