News / National
Kikky Badass ordered to pay US$18,000 in defamation case
07 Dec 2024 at 12:17hrs | Views
Hip hop artist and video vixen Christabel Stembeni Kikky Badass Mahlungwa has been ordered to pay US$18,000 in defamation damages to prominent Masvingo lawyer Rodney Saratoga Makausi following a lawsuit over a March 2023 Instagram post.
The lawsuit stemmed from a post in which Kikky Badass accused Makausi of soliciting sex from her, a claim that the lawyer, who is also a businessman, vehemently denied. The accusation was made to her 235,000 Instagram followers, leading Makausi to sue for US$500,000 in damages after Kikky Badass refused to remove the post.
In the ruling, High Court Judge Justice Sunsley Zisengwe granted Makausi US$18,000 in damages after Kikky Badass failed to attend the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) on October 1, 2024, and did not submit her responses as required by Justice Garainesu Mawadze. Makausi subsequently applied for a default judgment, with the amount of damages initially amended from US$60,000 to the final award of US$18,000.
Makausi's legal team, led by Samuel Banda of Advocate's Chambers in Harare, argued that Kikky Badass did not make any effort to retract the defamatory post despite being engaged over the matter. The lawyer's reputation, which he valued highly as both a professional and a devout Seventh-day Adventist, was severely damaged by the allegations, according to his court submission.
In his statement, Makausi expressed the profound impact the defamation had on him personally and professionally, noting that, in a small city like Masvingo, his reputation was vital to his work and standing within the community. He also mentioned the emotional toll the false claims had on his family.
"The respondent's defamatory posts have caused irreparable harm to that fama," Makausi stated in court. "The embarrassment and ridicule that I have suffered as a result of her defamatory post is borne for no reason at all."
In her defense, Kikky Badass had initially filed a plea for the case to be dismissed, arguing that Makausi could not demand damages in US dollars, claiming the currency was not official in Zimbabwe. However, this plea was rejected by Justice Zisengwe.
The case serves as a cautionary tale for those engaging in social media, where defamatory posts can have severe legal and financial consequences. Kikky Badass, who has a strong presence in the music and entertainment industry, now faces the financial ramifications of the legal battle.
The lawsuit stemmed from a post in which Kikky Badass accused Makausi of soliciting sex from her, a claim that the lawyer, who is also a businessman, vehemently denied. The accusation was made to her 235,000 Instagram followers, leading Makausi to sue for US$500,000 in damages after Kikky Badass refused to remove the post.
In the ruling, High Court Judge Justice Sunsley Zisengwe granted Makausi US$18,000 in damages after Kikky Badass failed to attend the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) on October 1, 2024, and did not submit her responses as required by Justice Garainesu Mawadze. Makausi subsequently applied for a default judgment, with the amount of damages initially amended from US$60,000 to the final award of US$18,000.
Makausi's legal team, led by Samuel Banda of Advocate's Chambers in Harare, argued that Kikky Badass did not make any effort to retract the defamatory post despite being engaged over the matter. The lawyer's reputation, which he valued highly as both a professional and a devout Seventh-day Adventist, was severely damaged by the allegations, according to his court submission.
In his statement, Makausi expressed the profound impact the defamation had on him personally and professionally, noting that, in a small city like Masvingo, his reputation was vital to his work and standing within the community. He also mentioned the emotional toll the false claims had on his family.
"The respondent's defamatory posts have caused irreparable harm to that fama," Makausi stated in court. "The embarrassment and ridicule that I have suffered as a result of her defamatory post is borne for no reason at all."
In her defense, Kikky Badass had initially filed a plea for the case to be dismissed, arguing that Makausi could not demand damages in US dollars, claiming the currency was not official in Zimbabwe. However, this plea was rejected by Justice Zisengwe.
The case serves as a cautionary tale for those engaging in social media, where defamatory posts can have severe legal and financial consequences. Kikky Badass, who has a strong presence in the music and entertainment industry, now faces the financial ramifications of the legal battle.
Source - The Mirror
