News / Local
White farmer & Daily News in US$200 000 trouble
31 Oct 2011 at 06:01hrs | Views
A WHITE commercial farmer belonging to the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is facing a staggering US$200 000 lawsuit for telling lies to the private press about her relationship with a local indigenous businessman, who is her neighbor.
The damning lies were allegedly meant to whip up emotions of the international community as part of the ongoing crusade of demonizing Zanu PF ahead of the forthcoming g elections.
According to a letter of demand at hand, Ms Terraine Harvey, a Shangani based safari operator, allegedly lied to the Daily News that her neighbor of a more than a decade, Mr Joseph Tayali leads a group of Zanu PF youths who have allegedly evicted her from Esmnyangeni Farm without lawful authority to do so.
Ms Harvey is said to have alleged that Mr Tayali has for the past two months threatened her and her workers with text messages, camped at her farm, and sent her "bullets" in envelops. One of the bullets is said to have been sent to another farmer, Nicks Kangwena.
On Thursday, our news crew visited the farm and workers who requested anonimity for fear of victimisation said their boss was at the farm and was never evicted by anyone.
"No-one evicted us at the farm. She is (Ms Harvey) staying here with us and we have not been moved by anyone. Asikwazi ukuthi likuthathangaphi ukuthi sake sahlukuluzwa saxotshwa. Mina ngileminyaka ngihlala lapha, lokhu okokugijimisana emaplazini sakuzwela emaphepheni, asikubonanga," said a worker at the farm.The MDC T activist, who on Thursday refused to speak to our reporter, has up to 31 October to pay the US$200 000 for defamation damages or face being dragged to the High Court of Bulawayo.
"I do not talk to people from your paper," she said after our reporter introduced himself.
Reads the letter in part, written by Mr Sindiso Mazibisa of Cheda and Partners representing Mr Tayali:
"We are lawyers for Mr Joseph Tayali, a businessman and respected citizen of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe with global flare and reach.
"The 6 September 2011 Daily News edition, copy attached contains a story to the following effect. That our client leads a group of Zanu PF youths who evicted you from Esmnyangeni Farm without lawful authority.
"That our client sent threatening messages and our client is interfering with police work. That our client sent a bullet to one Nicks Kangwena. To our client's knowledge a Mr Thebe is on the farm and there is no truth in threats to your client, sending bullets, sending text messages and our client commanding Zanu PF supporters to do unlawful activities.
The letter demands:
"By peddling a false story you and the Daily News have defamed our client and lowered his status and standing in the eyes of right standing people in society.
"By copy of this letter we demand payment of US$200 000 by way of defamation damages against you and the Daily News.
"By copy of this letter we advise the Daily News that they are jointly and severally liable with you to pay US$200 000 by 31 October 2011 for damages.
"If by 31 October 2011 we do not hear from you, we shall simply issue summons. Be well advised," reads the letter in part.
The letter is copied to News Reporter Pindai Dube and his editor (cited in his official capacity).
The damning lies were allegedly meant to whip up emotions of the international community as part of the ongoing crusade of demonizing Zanu PF ahead of the forthcoming g elections.
According to a letter of demand at hand, Ms Terraine Harvey, a Shangani based safari operator, allegedly lied to the Daily News that her neighbor of a more than a decade, Mr Joseph Tayali leads a group of Zanu PF youths who have allegedly evicted her from Esmnyangeni Farm without lawful authority to do so.
Ms Harvey is said to have alleged that Mr Tayali has for the past two months threatened her and her workers with text messages, camped at her farm, and sent her "bullets" in envelops. One of the bullets is said to have been sent to another farmer, Nicks Kangwena.
On Thursday, our news crew visited the farm and workers who requested anonimity for fear of victimisation said their boss was at the farm and was never evicted by anyone.
"No-one evicted us at the farm. She is (Ms Harvey) staying here with us and we have not been moved by anyone. Asikwazi ukuthi likuthathangaphi ukuthi sake sahlukuluzwa saxotshwa. Mina ngileminyaka ngihlala lapha, lokhu okokugijimisana emaplazini sakuzwela emaphepheni, asikubonanga," said a worker at the farm.The MDC T activist, who on Thursday refused to speak to our reporter, has up to 31 October to pay the US$200 000 for defamation damages or face being dragged to the High Court of Bulawayo.
"I do not talk to people from your paper," she said after our reporter introduced himself.
Reads the letter in part, written by Mr Sindiso Mazibisa of Cheda and Partners representing Mr Tayali:
"We are lawyers for Mr Joseph Tayali, a businessman and respected citizen of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe with global flare and reach.
"That our client sent threatening messages and our client is interfering with police work. That our client sent a bullet to one Nicks Kangwena. To our client's knowledge a Mr Thebe is on the farm and there is no truth in threats to your client, sending bullets, sending text messages and our client commanding Zanu PF supporters to do unlawful activities.
The letter demands:
"By peddling a false story you and the Daily News have defamed our client and lowered his status and standing in the eyes of right standing people in society.
"By copy of this letter we demand payment of US$200 000 by way of defamation damages against you and the Daily News.
"By copy of this letter we advise the Daily News that they are jointly and severally liable with you to pay US$200 000 by 31 October 2011 for damages.
"If by 31 October 2011 we do not hear from you, we shall simply issue summons. Be well advised," reads the letter in part.
The letter is copied to News Reporter Pindai Dube and his editor (cited in his official capacity).
Source - Byo24News
