malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
GRAIN Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson Dr Tafadzwa Musarara yesterday lodged a police report against activist Mr Rutendo Matinyarare for allegedly publishing falsehoods on his X handle.
Dr Musarara filed the police report at Avondale Police Station.
In the criminal complaint dated May 4, 2024, Dr Musarara accused Mr Matinyarare of lying when he claimed that he said genetically modified organism (GMO) foods have no side effects.
“I hereby make a criminal complaint against Rutendo Benson Matinyarare for the following charges: Cyber-bullying and harassment as provided in Section 164B of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23), as read together with Section 35 of the Cyber and Data Protection Act (Chapter 12:07), in that on February 28, 2024, and using his X account, formerly known as Twitter, with a handle @matinyarare, the accused person, Rutendo Benson Matinyarare, published an article titled ‘Tafadzwa Musarara’s claims that GMOs don’t have side effects is not scientific’, in which he was cyber-bullying me by making false claims against me to the public to the effect that I was making money from selling GMOs, and that I will rather risk feeding the nation carcinogens or cancerous food products for profit,” reads part of the police report.
Mr Matinyarare allegedly posted on his X handle that Dr Musarara had not scientifically proven that the GMOs do not have side effects.
Mr Matinyarare’s X post read: “Tafadzwa Musarara’s claim that GMOs don’t have side effects is not scientific. What scientific research did Tafadzwa Musarara do to determine that consuming GMOs has no known side effects on our people? Is he now a scientist or is he just parroting propaganda advanced by GMO-producing companies and nations to proliferate their products to the Third World, where they want to foster dependency while opening markets for their US$4 trillion pharmaceutical industry from those falling sick from the GMOs and chemicals?”
GMAZ recently approached the High Court of Zimbabwe seeking to stop Mr Matinyarare from publishing defamatory material against its members.
GMAZ wanted Mr Matinyarare to remove from his X handle content titled “Innscor GMOs risk exposing Zimbabweans, Zambians, Kenyans and others to biological weapons”, “Tafadzwa Musarara’s claim that GMOs don’t have side effects is not scientific” and “Response to Grain Millers Association”.
In the court application, GMAZ cited Mr Matinyarare and the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe as respondents.
GMAZ is also seeking an interdict stopping Mr Matinyarare from publishing any further defamatory content against its members until the finalisation of the High Court matter.
Recently, Innscor Africa obtained a takedown order against the activist, who had posted videos online accusing the company of “destroying the taste of Zimbabwean food”, while also labelling the company’s founder, Zinona ‘Zed’ Koudounaris, a “Rhodie”.
The matter was heard by a Johannesburg High Court, which ruled Mr Matinyarare’s claims as defamatory.
Online Reporter