Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
A SINGAPOREAN has won his case to register a foreign judgment in Zimbabwe after the High Court ruled that an order issued by the High Court of Singapore could be enforced locally.
Justice Nevile Wamambo delivered the ruling, granting an application by Ser Kang Wei and his company, Lucent Trading Limited, to register a Singaporean court order against two Singaporean nationals who are permanent residents in Zimbabwe, Yong Khong Yoong Mark and Emily Hwang Mei Chen.
“This court has on previous occasions had the opportunity to interpret the similarly worded provisions of Rule 87 of the former Rules… The non‑joinder of a party is not fatal to a cause or suit,” Justice Wamambo said in dismissing the respondents’ preliminary objection.
The respondents had argued that the application should fail because another person cited in the Singapore judgment, Salas Porras Carlos Luis, had not been joined.
The judge ruled that Zimbabwean procedure allows a matter to proceed despite non‑joinder.
Justice Wamambo found that the Singapore judgment met the common‑law requirements for registration of a foreign judgment in the country.
He held that the order sought, initially granted as a Mareva injunction, became final after the Singapore High Court dismissed the respondents’ bid to have it discharged.
“I agree with the applicants and, therefore, find that the order of 21 July 2025, when read together with the judgment of 19 December 2025, confirming the prior order, renders the order of 21 July 2025 final and definitive in effect,” he ruled.
The court held that the Singapore proceedings had concluded on the issue of the injunction, making the order final for enforcement purposes in Zimbabwe.
“In the circumstances, I find that the applicants have managed to meet the common law threshold for the registration of a foreign court order,” Justice Wamambo said before granting the application.
The Singapore order of July 21, 2025, confirmed on December 19 2025, is now registered as an order of the High Court of Zimbabwe. The respondents were ordered to pay costs jointly and severally.
Mr Msindo Hungwe of MD Hungwe Attorneys represented Ser Kang Wei and his company, Lucent Trading Limited, while A Mandizvidza acted for Masiya- Sheshe, and Associates acted for Yong Khong Yoong, Mark and Emily Hwang Mei Chen.
