By Staff Reporter
Harare Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro finds herself at the center of controversy following allegations of defamation and false statements made during a trial earlier this year.
Lawyer Milliscent Moyo of Mutumbwa, Mugabe and Partners, represented by attorney Charles Warara, has sent a letter to Magistrate Guwuriro demanding an apology and defamation damages totaling US$170,000.
The letter, dated May 16, 2023, sheds light on the incident and its subsequent impact on Moyo’s reputation.
According to the letter, during the trial of the State v Georgios Katsimberis in Court 9 of the Harare Magistrates Court on February 14, 2023, Magistrate Guwuriro allegedly accused Moyo of lying to the court about Advocate Tinomudaishe Chinyoka’s travel plans.
However, Moyo who was standing in for Advocate Chinyoka on the day claims she never made such a statement, and the accusation made by the magistrate was false.
The letter further states that Magistrate Guwuriro reprimanded Moyo for lying, despite having a letter in the court record indicating Advocate Chinyoka’s scheduled medical treatment trip to South Africa on that day.
The court proceedings’ transcript includes the magistrate’s statements, which accused Moyo of unprofessionalism and portrayed her as a dishonest person.
According to the letter the impact of Guwuriro’s statements reverberated beyond the courtroom.
“Your statements received even more extensive coverage in whatss app groups including and particularly lawyers’ groups The statements meant that our client is a liar and a dishonest person unworthy of being a lawyer as she had betrayed her oath as an officer of the court,” read part of the letter
As a result, Moyo’s reputation suffered greatly, and she became the subject of mockery and derision within and outside the legal profession to address the damages caused by the false statements, Moyo’s lawyers have demanded that Magistrate Guwuriro take certain actions within five days.
“It is our instructions to demand as we hereby do that within 5 days of the date of this letter you do the following: Publish an apology to our client and to her firm Mutumbwa Mugabe and Partners. Pay to Miss Moyo US$170,000.00 defamation damages failing which we have firm instructions to issue summons against you at your cost without further ado,” said the lawyers
Given the seriousness of the allegations and the involvement of a judicial officer, the letter has been copied to the Judicial Services Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
