Mahere slapped with US$100 000 defamation suit

Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter

FORMER opposition politician Advocate Fadzayi Mahere faces a US$100 000 defamation lawsuit filed by Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tinoda Machakaire following posts on her X account attacking the Minister.

A letter of demand dated Monday delivered to Mahere’s Beverly Court office in Harare, accuses the opposition lawyer of spreading false claims. Minister Machakaire’s legal representatives, Prichard Attorneys, allege Mahere accused the Minister of corruption, theft, dishonesty and misuse of public funds to buy luxury vehicles.

The dispute centres on a July 6 post on X in which Mahere questioned Minister Machakaire’s alleged involvement in a US$8 million tax evasion scheme tied to vehicle imports. The post suggested political interference allowed the alleged case to be dropped.

Through his lawyers, Minister Machakaire has demanded an immediate public apology from Mahere, both online and in print, along with a full retraction of her statements within 24 hours. ‘The exchange on the Twitter (now X) handle does not follow due process of law as required by law,’ the Minister’s lawyers stated in their letter.

“If your defamatory broadcasts on X are directed to our client in his official capacity in a genuine search for accountability, then such must be made in terms of the law, law of which you are conversant with.

“Our client insists that the broadcast is defamatory as it attacks his person and not (his) official public title. He insists on his demand for a retraction and demands that if you indeed request information from the Ministry of Youth, you must follow due process, as the process you are engaged in is unlawful.

‘The exchange on your Twitter (X) handle does not adhere to the due process of law as required by statute,” said the lawyers.

They added that Minister Machakaire insists that Mahere’s broadcasts are defamatory, as they target his person rather than his official public duties. The demand warns of impending legal action under the country’s defamation and dignity laws, if she fails to comply.

Minister Machakaire’s legal team contends that Mahere’s accusations, broadcast to her 844 000 followers and generating significant engagement, caused reputational harm and financial damage. Mahere has not yet responded to the demand.