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Macheso faces $300,000 defamation lawsuit

by Staff reporter
02 Jul 2014 at 06:31hrs | Views
Sungura musician Alick Macheso faces a $300 000 defamation lawsuit after his ex-wife Fortunate 'Tafadzwa' Mapako says she has sent a letter of demand in pursuit of damages caused by her former husband's 'unrelenting malicious attacks' on her reputation following paternity results.

Through her lawyer Gift Nyandoro of Hamunakwadi, Nyandoro and Nyambuya legal practitioners, Mapako issued a 48-hour ultimatum dated July 1 addressed to the sungura maestro.

Mapako issued the claim as a consequence of Macheso's recent press pronouncements  relating to paternity test results released last month by the National Blood Transfusion Services Zimbabwe (NBTSZ).

The blood tests confirmed that Macheso was the father of two minor children he sired with Mapako during their ill-fated four-year marriage.

In his response to Macheso's claims that the paternity results were 'rigged', Nyandoro blasted the former for going all out in trying to undermine a scientifically proven fact that he was, indeed, the father of the two children.

In the letter addressed to Macheso's lawyer, Norman Mugiya, Nyandoro laid clear his client's grievances and reasons behind the defamation claim.

"Without doubt, the conduct of Macheso shows a deliberate ploy to damage our client's dignity and reputation. The malicious attacks on her person have caused her much pain and suffering and humiliation in the public eye," said Nyandoro.

"We further note your client's continued desire to embarrass our client by requesting for more DNA paternity tests as if our client is a court of competent jurisdiction.

"Given the foregoing, our client (Mapako) is left with no option, but to make a claim of $300 000 against your client (Macheso) for defamation.

"Not only has Macheso caused immeasurable pain and suffering to our client, but his conduct has seriously undermined the dignity and the future of the two minor children."

The legal counsel for Mapako went on to state that Macheso must respond to the letter for defamation within the stipulated time frame, failure to which a redress with the courts shall be followed.

Macheso pays $750 monthly for the upkeep of his two children.

The sungura king has since stopped maintaining her ex-wife following the annulment of the pair's customary union.

Mugiya could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

Source - Zim Mail