Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi has instituted legal case against journalist Hope Chizuzu who is accused of publishing a series of defamatory articles against the football association’s leader.
Though his lawyers Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys are demanding that Chizuzu deletes and retract all the defamatory statements, failure of which will attract a US$5m defamatory lawsuit.
Magwizi claims that Chizuzu launched unwarranted attacks in which he accused the Harare businessman of corruption and incompetency.
The ZIFA president is also unhappy with Chizuzu for dragging the names of ZIFA chief executive Yvonne Manwa and benefactor Wicknell Chivhayo into disrepute.
Magwizi’s lawyers have indicated they will “institute motion proceedings for a cease-and-desist order to stop you from penning malicious articles against our client.”
They also intend to press criminal charges for violation of section 164B of the Data Protection Act [Chapter 11:22] as they view Chizuzu’s conduct as constituting “cyber-bullying”.
“We advise that the published statements highlighted hereinabove are slanderous, insulting and defamatory. The utterances are understood by a reasonable reader to carry one or more of the following meanings:
a. Our client is an illegitimate leader who was not properly elected as the ZIFA President but rather bribed his way into the office;
b. Our client is a thief or fraudster who embezzled the sum of US$ 500,000.00 from ZIFA which he is hiding:
c. Our client is an incompetent leader who consistently breaches the constitution of ZIFA and has an appetite for engaging in unlawful acts;
d. Our client is a selfish person who took delivery of a Toyota SUV, metallic in colour, from Mr. Chivayo but is now blocking other ZIFA officials from also receiving cars;
e. Our client is the most “useless” ZIFA president (that is to say he is incompetent, worthless, incapable, hopeless, and pointless); and
f. Our client on his own incorrectly and unlawfully extended the contract of the ZIFA CEO.
“Your defamatory utterances were widely published on your Facebook platform and have also been circulated in various WhatsApp groups, which have national and international reach.”
Magwizi’s lawyers argue that Chizuzu’s allegations had far-reaching implications on Magwizi’s office as ZIFA president as well as on his businesses.
“We advise that our client is a renowned entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist in Zimbabwe and internationally.
“He has a proven track record in diverse sectors that include advertising, marketing, infrastructure, property development, commodities, finance, broadcasting, and public relations,” said Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys.
“He is an able leader whose leadership extends to significant sponsorship deals in Zimbabwean football, impactful roles in international business relations, including the World Economic Forum, and contributions to national projects aimed at advancing sports infrastructure and community growth.”
In most of the articles, Chizuzu made allegations that Magwizi bribed his way into office, that he was “hiding” US$500 000, was blocking cars donated by businessman Wicknell Chivhayo for his Exco and assembly whilst he was driving a SUV from the same benefactor, that he was breaching the constitution with impunity, among a series of allegations.
Magwizi’s lawyers demand “unconditional, and unreserved withdrawal of the defamatory statements and all the imputations together with an expression of regret on the statements relating to our client, and this should be published for five (5) consecutive days.”
Failure to do so could lead to a US$500 000 lawsuit as well as criminal proceedings under the Cyber and data Protection Act.
Some of the inferences that Hope Chizuzu alluded to are factual. Magwizi is leading ZIFA to nowhere very fast.