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Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter

THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has approached the High Court to stop social media activist Rutendo Matinyarare from publishing defamatory material against its members.

Mr Matinyarare allegedly published defamatory articles using his online X account, making certain allegations, which GMAZ perceived to be harmful to it and its members.

The latest such allegedly defamatory publication was made on March 1. The millers’ association wants Mr Matinyarare to remove from his social media account the allegedly defamatory content being a tweet on his X account, titled, “Innscor GMOs (genetically modified organisms) risk exposing Zimbabweans, Zambians, Kenyans & others to biological weapons”, “Tafadzwa Musarara’s claim that GMOs don’t have side effects is not scientific” and @matinyarare titled Response to Grain Millers Association.

Mr Musarara is the president of GMAZ.

In a court action filed on Monday, GMAZ cited Mr Matinyarare and the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe as respondents.

GMAZ is seeking an interdict stopping Mr Matinyarare from publishing any further content considered defamatory against its members, until the finalisation of the suit when it wants this order made final.

In its court papers, GMAZ claims that the tweets published by Mr Matinyarare remain available online to readers and anyone conducting research on the millers association will encounter the defamatory material.

“The harm, therefore, continues to be suffered by the applicant, if not urgently averted,” said GMAZ. “There is also a real apprehension that first respondent at any moment may post further defamatory content to the extreme prejudice of the applicant members.”

Recently, Innscor Africa obtained a takedown order against Mr Matinyarare, who posted videos online accusing the company of “destroying the taste of Zimbabwean food” while also labelling company founder Mr Zinona ‘Zed’ Koudounaris a “Rhodie”.

The Johannesburg High Court ruled Mr Matinyarare’s claims were “defamatory,” leaving him facing a damages claim from Innscor and Mr Koudounaris as well as a huge legal bill, in the event Innscor wins the case.