The High Court of Zimbabwe has awarded US$18,000 in damages to Fadza Yi Mahere in a defamation case against Petina Gappah. The judgment, delivered by Justice Mafusire, marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle that began in October 2018.
The case centered on defamatory statements made by Gappah, which Mahere claimed had caused significant harm to her reputation.
Despite initially contesting both liability and the amount of damages, Gappah eventually admitted to the defamation and issued a retraction and apology. However, Mahere did not accept these gestures, leading to a trial focused on the adequacy of the retraction and apology, the appropriate level of damages, and the question of costs.
In his judgment, Justice Mafusire acknowledged the severity of the defamatory statements and awarded Mahere US$18,000 in damages. He also ordered Gappah to pay interest on this amount at a rate of 5% per annum from the date of judgment until full payment is made.
Additionally, Gappah was ordered to cover Mahere’s legal costs.
