News / National
Mahere demands US$100,000 in damages over married man affair allegations
13 Jul 2022 at 08:52hrs | Views
OPPOSITION Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Fadzai Mahere has demanded US$100,000 in damages over allegations she had an affair with a married man which she denied.
The allegations were made by freelance writer Edmund Kudzai, prompting Mahere to demand a retraction, failing which she would sue for damages.
However, Kudzayi insisted that there "will be no retraction; the story is factual and much more is coming".
Mahere's lawyers consequently filed a defamation claim with the High Court in Harare last Friday.
Kudzayi had claimed that Mahere had an affair with married businessman, Tinashe Murapata, whose marriage has since collapsed because of the illicit affair.
In High Court papers filed through her lawyers, Honey and Blanckenberg, Mahere said the allegations by Kudzai were aimed at soiling her image.
"The article was designed to damage plaintiff's personal and professional reputation, without any attempt at reporting information which was true or in the public interest," reads the papers.
"In the article itself, it was confirmed that neither the Plaintiff nor Mr. Murapata had confirmed any of the allegations set out in the article, and that ‘efforts to contract the estranged wife were unsuccessful'.
"It is therefore, clear that the author of the article made no attempt to establish the veracity of his claims, and had no direct sources for the claims made, and was relying simply on the hearsay of third parties."
Earlier this month, after a series on social media posts about the issue Kudzayi published
an article headlined "CCC spokesperson caught up in businessman's marriage collapse, love affair".
Mahere then demanded a retraction failing which she would sue for damages but Kudzayi said he was standing by the story.
"The reach of the defamatory allegations is therefore extensive. In light of the above, Plaintiff is entitled to damages as claimed," reads the summons by the CCC spokesperson.
Commenting on the development, Kudzayi said on Twitter Monday; "She (Mahere) won't get a cent."
The allegations were made by freelance writer Edmund Kudzai, prompting Mahere to demand a retraction, failing which she would sue for damages.
However, Kudzayi insisted that there "will be no retraction; the story is factual and much more is coming".
Mahere's lawyers consequently filed a defamation claim with the High Court in Harare last Friday.
Kudzayi had claimed that Mahere had an affair with married businessman, Tinashe Murapata, whose marriage has since collapsed because of the illicit affair.
In High Court papers filed through her lawyers, Honey and Blanckenberg, Mahere said the allegations by Kudzai were aimed at soiling her image.
"The article was designed to damage plaintiff's personal and professional reputation, without any attempt at reporting information which was true or in the public interest," reads the papers.
"In the article itself, it was confirmed that neither the Plaintiff nor Mr. Murapata had confirmed any of the allegations set out in the article, and that ‘efforts to contract the estranged wife were unsuccessful'.
Earlier this month, after a series on social media posts about the issue Kudzayi published
an article headlined "CCC spokesperson caught up in businessman's marriage collapse, love affair".
Mahere then demanded a retraction failing which she would sue for damages but Kudzayi said he was standing by the story.
"The reach of the defamatory allegations is therefore extensive. In light of the above, Plaintiff is entitled to damages as claimed," reads the summons by the CCC spokesperson.
Commenting on the development, Kudzayi said on Twitter Monday; "She (Mahere) won't get a cent."
Today I received summons from adulteress, CCC spokesperson, @advocatemahere claiming US$100k in alleged defamation damages.
— Edmund Kudzayi (@EdmundKudzayi) July 11, 2022
She won't get a cent.
The available evidence is impeccable, unimpeachable and thus compelling. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/qCtk5R6ELz
Source - NewZimbabwe
