FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe has withdrawn a case in which she was suing a local lawyer for US$50 000 for defaming her in a community WhatsApp group.
Grace had accused lawyer Munyaradzi Bwanya of falsely stating that she was using her connections to circumvent the process applicable to all beneficiaries in acquiring properties at Carrick Creagh Estate.
However, Grace’s lawyers apologised to Bwanya saying they were misled by their client.
“I wish to apologise to yourself for the delay in responding, in writing, to the courtesy letter of May 6, 2024.
“The absence of a written response is not an indication of my perception that the issue raised are trivial. I was, however, operating on the presumption that the verbal conversations we have had, in person and over the telephone on various occasions had addressed the pertinent aspects of the issues raised.
“Having gone through the courtesy letter and the evidence you produced in that letter, as clarified in the verbal conversations I personally had with you as referred above, I was in agreement with your position that a claim in the manner couched could not be sustained,” Takunda Mark Gombiro of Chimwamurombe Legal Practice said. Grace had accused Bwanya of falsely stating as a matter of fact that she had abused her power and was involved in illegally acquiring immovable property from the government.
The former First Lady had submitted that Bwanya falsely suggested that she gave favours to people with whom she was closely connected to and that she distributed the allegedly illegally acquired immovable property to her relatives and friends.
She further said the WhatsApp group messages sensationally and wrongfully labelled the relationship she and the government had as tainted with corruption and connivance connotations.
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But Bwanya denied the allegations saying the whole summon was fraught with false accusations.
The lawyer said he was a member of the said WhatsApp group, Carrick Creagh Home Owners Association, but had not posted such messages.
Bwanya also denied having the NetOne phone number that posted the said message, saying he was shocked by the allegations.
He submitted that the allegations Grace made in her summons were easy to investigate, saying she ought to show her lawyers the phone records from which the messages was sent.
“There are 498 potential witnesses, all of whom are members of that group. Please satisfy yourselves as to the truthfulness of the allegations in order to meet your dual duties as officers of the court and as colleagues in the legal fraternity,” Bwanya’s letter to lawyers.
“Should your summons stand by close of business tomorrow May 7, 2024, I shall assume that you have satisfied yourselves as to the honesty and good faith of your allegations shall proceed to defend the matter as it stands and to vindicate my rights.
“I have elected to engage you in this most extra ordinary manner in order to give you a fair opportunity to reconsider yours and your client’s position and your wrote in this matter.”
