News / National
Tsvangirai's MDC taken to court over MDC name
04 Jun 2013 at 18:50hrs | Views
The High Court has referred to trial the dispute between writer David Muzhuzha and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T over the coinage of the party's name in 1999.
The court would announce the date for the trial. The 46-year old journalist and author filed a US$200 000 lawsuit in December 2011 for defamation arising out of MDC-T's refusal to acknowledge him as the rightful person who coined its identity.
Instead, the party extended the honour to fellow journalist and politician Grace Kwinjeh at its 12th anniversary celebrations in September 2011.
In July 2010, MDC-T rebuffed Muzhuzha's initial claim for recognition and compensation for usage of the name "Movement for Democratic Change".
He had sought payment amounting to US$2 500 for every month dating back to May 1999 when the party was formed on a ZCTU platform. At the time, the amount was US$330 000. Responding through its director-general Mr Toendepi Shonhe, the MDC-T denied that Muzhuzha had coined the name.
In case papers filed at the High Court by lawyer Mr Joseph Mandizha of Mandizha and Company, Muzhuzha argues that the denial of his contribution by MDC-T had an effect of branding him a liar who was not ashamed of distorting the party's history.
The MDC-T is being represented by Honey and Blackenberg, a legal firm closely linked to MDC-T secretary general and Minister of Finance Tendai Biti.
The court would announce the date for the trial. The 46-year old journalist and author filed a US$200 000 lawsuit in December 2011 for defamation arising out of MDC-T's refusal to acknowledge him as the rightful person who coined its identity.
Instead, the party extended the honour to fellow journalist and politician Grace Kwinjeh at its 12th anniversary celebrations in September 2011.
He had sought payment amounting to US$2 500 for every month dating back to May 1999 when the party was formed on a ZCTU platform. At the time, the amount was US$330 000. Responding through its director-general Mr Toendepi Shonhe, the MDC-T denied that Muzhuzha had coined the name.
In case papers filed at the High Court by lawyer Mr Joseph Mandizha of Mandizha and Company, Muzhuzha argues that the denial of his contribution by MDC-T had an effect of branding him a liar who was not ashamed of distorting the party's history.
The MDC-T is being represented by Honey and Blackenberg, a legal firm closely linked to MDC-T secretary general and Minister of Finance Tendai Biti.
Source - herald
