Harare — The High Court has ordered journalist Edmund Kudzayi to pay US$100,000 in defamation damages to lawyer and former opposition Member of Parliament, Fadzayi Mahere.
This verdict marks the largest defamation award in Zimbabwean history.
The case stemmed from Mahere’s 2022 lawsuit after Kudzayi published a story on his WhatsApp news platform, Kukurigo, which Mahere claimed was false and damaging to her reputation. High Court Judge Joel Mambara granted a default judgment against Kudzayi after his defense was struck out, citing his failure to respond adequately.
In the ruling, Judge Mambara stated, “The plaintiff’s claim is hereby granted. The defendant shall pay the sum of US$100,000 or its equivalent in local currency, with interest at 5 percent per annum from the date of summons to payment. The defendant shall also cover the plaintiff’s legal costs.”
Kudzayi announced plans to appeal the decision, criticizing the judge handling the earlier stages of the case.
The journalist also accused the High Court of reinstating Mahere’s lawsuit twice after it was previously struck off the roll, alleging that Mahere misrepresented facts to manipulate the legal process. Mahere has denied these allegations.
Kudzayi’s trouble began after he alleged that Mahere was romantically involved with married businessman Tinashe Murapata, further accusing her of causing the breakdown of Murapata’s marriage. Mahere responded that the articles aimed to tarnish her personal and professional reputation, asserting that the claims lacked truth and did not serve the public interest.
Mahere’s legal team argued that the articles failed to verify the allegations, citing that no confirmation was obtained from Mahere or Murapata, and that the claims were based on hearsay and unsubstantiated sources.
The ruling underscores the severity of defamation cases in Zimbabwe and sets a new precedent for accountability in the media landscape.