News / National
Woman files a $10 000 defamation suit for being called a 'hooker'
13 Apr 2013 at 06:30hrs | Views
A Harare woman is demanding $10 000 from a man who allegedly called her a prostitute in the presence of her husband.
The woman - Makirita Mudangwe - claims that Shadreck Chikore uttered the defamatory statement on July 29 last year.
According to Mudangwe, Chikore called her a 'joki' (prostitute) in front of her husband and a police officer while they were at Braeside Police Station in Harare.
She said that her understanding of the word meant a prostitute.
In the claim filed at the High Court, Mudangwe through her lawyer stated, "Plaintiff is not a prostitute but a faithfully married woman . . . from the day defendant (Chikore) uttered the word to plaintiff, her husband developed serious suspicion on her as far as prostitution is concerned.
"Everyday plaintiff's husband accuses her of being a prostitute as a result of defendant's utterance of the word 'joki'."
She also said that her husband had lost all the trust, love and affection he had for her.
Mudangwe added that she was now living in fear of being divorced by her husband such that she has developed psychological trauma and stress.
But Chikore denied branding Mudangwe a prostitute.
He said the allegations were fabricated in a bid to fix him and he also accused Mudangwe of using the courts to settle personal scores.
"On the day it is alleged the defamatory statement was made, the parties had gone to the police station after the plaintiff (Mudangwe) had been implicated in an assault case in which defendant had been attacked by thugs and the gang indicated to the police that they had been sent by the plaintiff to attack him.
"There is bad blood between the two and defendant will not pay US$10 000 since there is no basis for payment.
"This action is an abuse of court process, she is using the courts to settle personal scores," he said.
The woman - Makirita Mudangwe - claims that Shadreck Chikore uttered the defamatory statement on July 29 last year.
According to Mudangwe, Chikore called her a 'joki' (prostitute) in front of her husband and a police officer while they were at Braeside Police Station in Harare.
She said that her understanding of the word meant a prostitute.
In the claim filed at the High Court, Mudangwe through her lawyer stated, "Plaintiff is not a prostitute but a faithfully married woman . . . from the day defendant (Chikore) uttered the word to plaintiff, her husband developed serious suspicion on her as far as prostitution is concerned.
"Everyday plaintiff's husband accuses her of being a prostitute as a result of defendant's utterance of the word 'joki'."
She also said that her husband had lost all the trust, love and affection he had for her.
Mudangwe added that she was now living in fear of being divorced by her husband such that she has developed psychological trauma and stress.
But Chikore denied branding Mudangwe a prostitute.
He said the allegations were fabricated in a bid to fix him and he also accused Mudangwe of using the courts to settle personal scores.
"On the day it is alleged the defamatory statement was made, the parties had gone to the police station after the plaintiff (Mudangwe) had been implicated in an assault case in which defendant had been attacked by thugs and the gang indicated to the police that they had been sent by the plaintiff to attack him.
"There is bad blood between the two and defendant will not pay US$10 000 since there is no basis for payment.
"This action is an abuse of court process, she is using the courts to settle personal scores," he said.
Source - TC
