Youth and Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao, through his lawyers Dube Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners has threatened to sue Zimbabwe’s leading daily paper, the Herald, if it fails to give a full retraction to a story which claimed that Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao are united by a shared distaste for VP Mnangagwa’s political career.
The 48 hour ultimatum demanding an apology and a full retraction follows a story that was published by the Herald on Thursday last week claiming that the trio, who are reportedly under the G40 banner wants President Mugabe to die.
In a letter that was addressed to the Herald editor, Mr Caesar Zvayi, Zhuwao through his lawyers demanded an apology and a full retraction on the sentiments which the lawyers dubbed as defamatory.
“Our demands are to demand as we do hereby do, that within 48 hours or alternatively in your publication of Wednesday the 24th of February 2016 you immediately issue a written apology and a full retraction of the grossly defamatory statements you have published. The apology and retraction must be displayed prominently in our publication. The retraction may ameliorate the damages ours shall be claiming your media institution and Mr Reason Wafawanaka,” reads the letter.
The three page latter added that, “the statements, which were published and distributed widely across the entire country and beyond its borders through both print and electronic media, were calculated to falsely and maliciously portray our client as promoting conflict,,disunity, the destruction of Zanu PF and the wishing upon the death of Zanu PF’s Secretary and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe His Excellence President Robert Mugabe.”
The Zanu PF Unite or Perish, article written by the Australian based columnist, Reason Wafawarova explains how, the G40 stewards Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao are united by a shared distaste for VP Mnangagwa’s political career
The article ironically stipulates that the trio want to replace President Mugabe.
“We know who wants President Mugabe to die and go with the Zanu PF ideology. We know who benefits from the ultimate demise of Zanu PF. We know who has lost through the revolutionary ideology that shapes Zanu PF,” writes Wafawarowa.
However, Mr Zvayi revealed that he has not received the letter but he disclosed that once they have the letter, the company lawyers will deal with the matter.
@263Chat @Sam263Chat I haven’t received any letter. Should it come, our lawyers will competently deal with it.
— Caesar Zvayi (@caesarzvayi) February 23, 2016
