Mutasa, Gumbo file $5 million lawsuit against Mujuru

Embattled former Vice President Joice Mujuru has been slapped with a US$5 million defamation lawsuit by ZimPF founding members Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.

The lawsuit was filed at the High Court late on Tuesday.

The duo is seeking damages amounting to US$5 million, an unconditional written apology and the cost of the lawsuit for her alleged utterances on the 11th of February this year while addressing supporters of the Zimbabwe People First in Masvingo which insinuated that Mutasa and Gumbo had solicited to be intimate with her as their "Queen Bee".

The alleged defamatory utterances were published in a local weekly newspaper.

Summons dated February 20 were delivered to the former vice president by Mutasa and Gumbo's attorneys, Titan Law.

"We have instructions to demand from you on behalf of our clients a full retraction of your allegations along with a public apology in respect of the unfounded statements made denigrating our clients.

"Should we not receive any such retraction and public apology by close of business this Friday 24 February 2017, we will proceed with our clients' further instructions to sue you in the High Court the combined amount of $5 million," said Mutasa and Gumbo's lawyers.

Mujuru initially fired Gumbo and Mutasa from ZimPF for plotting a coup against her. Mutasa and Gumbo responded by saying she had instead fired herself from the party. The battle for control of ZimPF ensued until Mujuru seemed to have given up and formed a new political outfit, the National People's Party (NPP).

The new party was formed purportedly to re-brand the feuding ZimPF formed in March 2015.