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Cde Kaukonde

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
FORMER zanu-pf Mashonaland East provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde is claiming $5 million for damages over alleged defamatory articles published by The Sunday Mail and The Sunday News on his alleged demands for sexual favours from female party members aspiring for leadership positions.

In his claim filed at the High Court recently, Kaukonde cited Zimbabwe Newspapers, The Sunday News editor Tumeliso Makhurane and Mabasa Sasa, The Sunday Mail acting editor as defendants. The article, titled “Ray Kaukonde sex-for-power storm” was published on November 2 last year in the Sunday Mail and the Sunday News.

Through his lawyers Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans, Kaukonde said the allegations in the context of the article were malicious, wrongful and plainly defamatory in that they were intended and were understood by the readers of the publications to mean that he was immoral, depraved and unfit to hold responsible office.

“The two newspapers are widely distributed in Zimbabwe, widely read by the general public and are accessible on the Internet to an even wider global readership,” reads part of the summons. Kaukonde said apart from the alleged defamatory meaning of the articles, they also carried an additional sting that he is a corrupt politician who abuses authority.

He added that due to the articles, his reputation was damaged, hence the demand of $5 million being damages for defamation. Zimbabwe Newspapers, through its lawyers Mandaza, Muzangaza and Tomana law firm, disputes Kaukonde’s claims and has since filed its defence.