HARARE – Zimbabwean journalist and publisher Simbarashe Chikanza has lodged a formal complaint with the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) against Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, accusing her of abusing the legal system and engaging in harassment.
In a detailed letter addressed to the LSZ, Chikanza, the founder of ZimEye, alleges that Mahere manipulated legal proceedings in her defamation case against Dr. Petina Gappah, leading to the exclusion of his affidavit, which he claims contained critical evidence. He argues that Mahere’s selective litigation tactics suggest a personal vendetta rather than a genuine defamation case.
Chikanza asserts that Mahere deliberately pursued legal action against Dr. Gappah while ignoring other individuals who made similar or worse allegations against her. He cites prominent figures such as journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, political activist Acie Lumumba, and social media personality Gift Kugara, none of whom faced legal consequences despite making comparable claims.
The complaint also accuses Mahere of attempting to suppress key evidence by pressuring Dr. Gappah into disowning Chikanza’s affidavit as a condition for an apology. Chikanza describes this as an unethical tactic designed to rewrite the narrative surrounding the case.
Beyond the legal allegations, Chikanza claims that Mahere verbally abused and intimidated him following a 2017 ZimEye report that challenged her statements regarding activist Patson Dzamara. He alleges that Mahere, along with an unnamed male associate, insulted him via phone calls and text messages, behavior he argues constitutes harassment under Zimbabwean law.
Despite efforts by former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to mediate the dispute in 2020, Mahere allegedly refused to apologize, further exacerbating tensions.
Chikanza also criticizes Mahere for failing to take action against individuals who issued death threats against his team after they defended her from defamatory remarks made by Kugara. He contrasts this with her legal pursuit of Dr. Gappah, suggesting inconsistency in her approach to defamation and threats.
Furthermore, the journalist claims that Mahere has used her position within the legal profession to intimidate accused persons by publicly associating them with the Law Society, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear. He references a Facebook post (attached as evidence) in which Mahere allegedly wields her legal influence in a way that intimidates complainants and the general public.
Chikanza urges the Law Society to investigate Mahere under Sections 88 and 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which address harassment, threats, and legal abuse. He calls for a review of her conduct and potential disciplinary measures to ensure ethical legal practice.
Mahere, a high-profile lawyer and opposition activist, has yet to publicly respond to these allegations. The Law Society of Zimbabwe has also not commented on whether it will proceed with an investigation.
