HARARE – Former Mt Pleasant Member of Parliament (MP) Fadzayi Mahere has filed a notice of amendment reducing her defamation damages claim against author Petina Gappah from US$1 million to US$50,000.
Despite Gappah’s apology, Mahere maintains that it is insincere since she has not publicly conceded that her statements were false.
The dispute originated from a public spat on Twitter in September 2018, where Gappah made allegations about Mahere’s university admissions and personal life. Mahere denied the claims and sued Gappah for US$1 million, citing harm to her political and professional career.
Gappah issued an apology letter, retracting her statements and offering a donation to a charity of Mahere’s choice.
“In order to bring a conclusive end to the legal action, I hereby fully and unequivocally retract all the statements that I made about her both on Twitter and in subsequent legal pleadings and tender a full, public and unreserved apology to Advocate Mahere for any pain, hurt or distress that were caused by my statements,” Gappah said.
In the apology, Gappah, the author of several books including An Elegy for Easterly which won the Guardian First Book Award in 2009, pledged to donate to a charity of Mahere’s choosing “as a demonstration of my good faith, sincerity and regret.”
However, Mahere’s legal team has criticised the apology as insincere, prompting the reduction of the damages claim.
The case has seen twists, including Gappah’s recusal application against High Court Judge Joseph Mafusire, which was dismissed.
The judge criticised Gappah’s legal team for their role in the application and emphasised that the onus of proof lies with Gappah in this case.
Tora Mari Fadzie
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