Machakaire threatens to sue Fadzayi Mahere for defamation over US$8m tax evasion case

HARARE – After days being challenged about the source of his wealth, Minister of Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tinoda Machakaire has responded by threatening to sue prominent lawyer and former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere for defamation.

Machakaire is demanding a public apology and retraction from Mahere for her posts on X (formerly Twitter) which he claims allegedly imply his involvement in an alleged US$8 million tax evasion case and other corrupt activities.

Prichard Attorneys, representing Machakaire in his personal capacity, issued a letter of demand to Mahere on Monday, calling for the withdrawal of what they term “false, defamatory and malicious allegations” made on her X handle, @advocatemahere.

In this post, Mahere, who has approximately 844,000 followers, allegedly questioned Machakaire regarding an alleged US$8 million tax evasion case related to vehicle importation, supposedly instituted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

Her questions also probed whether ZACC was forced to drop the case due to intervention from senior politicians and if he had ever imported vehicles and evaded import duty. The post concluded with the statement, “We need new leaders.”

Prichard Attorneys have argued that these questions, particularly when coupled with the concluding remark “we need new leaders,” constitute a “quasi-innuendo” or “sting pointing imputation,” implying that Machakaire is “corrupt to the core,” a “thief,” a “compulsive liar,” and “dishonest,” and that he used public funds to buy luxury vehicles.

“It is difficult to fathom why you would cherry pick our client from the pool of public officials in the country to answer your specious questions.

“You have already ‘convicted’ our client of the allegations you placed against him without even him answering. Your words ‘we need new leaders’ only entails that you have found by methods best known to you that our client was involved in the said antics (If they ever occurred).

“You have already found our client guilty despite you holding no judiciary authority (actual or quasi),” the lawyers stated.

The legal firm further highlighted the significant reach of Mahere’s post, noting that as of July 6, 2025, at 4:24 PM, it had garnered 33,000 views, 80 reposts, and 46 comments, with numbers expected to increase.

They contended that Mahere, as a legal practitioner, has a duty to ensure her public statements are accurate and not unjustly injurious, and that her failure to verify the allegations constituted a “deliberate and or negligent violation” of Machakaire’s constitutional rights to dignity and a good name.

Prichard Attorneys further stated that if Mahere required information from a public authority, she should have followed the “strict provisions of law” as outlined in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act Chapter 10:27.

Interestingly, this act was repealed a few years ago.

The letter demanded that Mahere issue a “sincere, profuse and unconditional public apology” to Machakaire, acknowledging the harm caused. The lawyers want the apology to be published in one of the most circulating newspapers in Zimbabwe and on her X handle, @advocatemahere.

They also want Mahere to “unconditionally” retract the posts made on her X handle with a specific statement acknowledging that she “tainted him to be corrupt, liar, dishonest and that he uses public funds to acquire luxury vehicles.”

Prichard Attorneys stated that they hold a “firm brief and mandate to assert these rights through judicial processes and remedies under Legis Aquilia, should it become necessary.”