By Moses Shupikai | Nehanda Harare Bureau |
Controversial businessman, Kamal Khalfan is suing the the independent Daily News for $10 million for stories he said defamed him and paints him in a very bad light.
While Khalfan does not deny the authenticity of the stinging stories, he argues that the paper twisted his words. The Daily News has however indicated it will lodge an application with the High court to defend itself from Khalfan’s onslaught.
Khalfan is facing more trouble himself after being accused by his former business associate Thamer Shanfari of trying to take over his businesses by framing him for kidnapping.
Shanfari is allegedly being accused by Khalfan of kidnapping a German man, Dietrich Herzog, in Harare last year. Shanfari has denied the allegations, saying nothing of that sort ever happened. He accused Khalfan of ‘scripting’ the fake kidnap story and selling it to the police.
It is believed Herzog has indicated he was withdrawing the kidnapping charges against Shanfari, realizing he had been duped by Khalfan to frame Shanfari in a bid to have him arrested and charged with a serious crime that blights his standing in society and business circles.
Khalfan wants Shanfari arrested so he could mastermind a takeover bid of his investments in Zimbabwe, an allegation Shanfari admitted was true.
He told Nehanda Radio from Oman on Wednesday that Khalfan, whose real name is Kamal Mahfoodh Khalfan Al-Obaidani, is allegedly using his close links to powerful figures in ZANU PF to ‘steal’ his businesses.
‘This is the reason why Khalfan concocted a story that I kidnapped Herzog, but he’s forgetting the same was a guest at my house in Harare. For that I sued him for $10 million the same amount he’s suing the Daily News,’ Shanfari said.
Khalfan turned against Shanfari after he sued him for $10 million for breach of contract. Shanfari was not happy that Khalfan was back stabbing him and trying to steal investors he brought to Zimbabwe.
‘Khalfan is targeting me and trying to portray me as a fugitive. I’m not a fugitive and I don’t have case to answer in a court of law because its all lies,’ said Shanfari.