Tafadzwa Mushunje, a Harare model who was cleared on charges of “deliberately infecting a minor with HIV blood” in February, has filed a $100 000 defamation suit against Zimbabwe Newspapers group.
Appearing before High Court Judge Justice Jester Charewa, Mushunje said the two newspapers provided a platform for the public to injure her reputation. She said the two papers, H-Metro in particular, opinionated their covering of her court case instead of presenting facts as they came from court.
Asked to justify the lawsuits, Mushunje said,
Since then my life has never been the same. In fact, it is a death sentence which was passed on me by these publications, they destroyed my future. My parents expect good things from me like getting married and now the chances of me getting married have been lessened, I am unemployed and no employer would want to associate their brand with me. I was subjected to hatred and discrimination by these publications.
Zimpapers’ reporter, Nyore Madziyanike who covered Mushunje’s entire court case was represented by Oscar Gasva of Chirimuuta and Associates. Madziyanike went through rigorous cross-examination which lasted for nearly three hours before the case was postponed to 7 November for continuation.
More: NewZimbabwe.com