Rutendo Nyeve Victoria Falls Reporter
JR GODDARD CONTRACTING, owned by prominent businessman Mr Jim Ross Goddard, has approached the High Court seeking to attach movable property worth approximately US$2.2 million from Premier African Minerals Limited’s Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in a bid to recover an outstanding debt.
This follows the issuance of a Writ of Execution for Movable Property filed at the High Court after negotiations over a long-standing debt reportedly collapsed. The writ empowers the sheriff to seize and auction designated movable assets at the mine to recover the owed sum.
The debt stems from a 2023 judgment in favour of JR Goddard, which had been stayed to allow for payment arrangements. According to earlier court records, the initial judgment was for US$2.5 million for services and materials supplied by Goddard’s company during the mine’s development phase. A notice of demand for US$2.3 million was served earlier this month, triggering the current enforcement action.
Premier African Minerals Limited, the AIM-listed parent company, confirmed the development in a corporate update released on Tuesday. The update stated that while the writ has been issued, dialogue with the creditor remains ongoing, and the company sought to assure stakeholders that the attachment may not be final.
“Communication between the parties remains open and ongoing and the company believes that, subject to the financial position at Zulu Lithium, any movable property attached pursuant to the Writ may be recovered through the agreement and implementation of further payment arrangements with the Creditor,” reads the update.
However, the move underscores persistent liquidity challenges facing the mining project, even in a high-demand sector such as lithium. The attachment of movable property, which could include machinery, vehicles or equipment, has the potential to disrupt operations at Zulu, one of Zimbabwe’s flagship lithium projects. This comes as Government pushes for increased mineral output and local beneficiation.
Premier African Minerals reiterated its commitment to finding a resolution, but the sheriff’s action, pending a last-minute settlement, now appears imminent.
Earlier this month, the company reported that as at 30 November 2025, unaudited total group liabilities — including amounts due to the offtake partner under the Offtake and Prepayment Agreement of US$46.568 million, with unsettled interest of US$11.9 million — stood at US$62.143 million. Of this, group trade creditors, including unpaid salaries, amounted to approximately US$15.035 million.
“Premier has limited funds and must secure additional financing arrangements to meet its payment commitments and obligations as they fall due. The company considers that a further extension of the Long Stop Date under the amended Offtake and Prepayment Agreement announced on 1 April 2025 is also an essential part to raising the further funding required, although there can be no guarantee at this time as to what further variations to the Long Stop
Date may be agreed between the parties,” the company reported.
As announced on 24 December 2024, Premier also provided the offtake partner with an extension of its existing security by granting a fixed charge over the shares of Zulu Lithium, but with no security over Premier’s other assets or projects.
The company advised shareholders that there was no guarantee that further funding would be secured on acceptable terms, warning that failure to do so within the required timeframe could have a material adverse effect on both Zulu Lithium and the financial position of the company as a whole. This, it said, could cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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