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Duduza Regina Moyo

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter—
BULAWAYO businessman Ashton Mpofu has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Mpilo Central Hospital’s director of operations, Duduza Regina Moyo, accusing her of lying that he sent her death threats following cancellation of a $3 million tender awarded to his company. He is suing for defamation. The cancelled tender was for the refurbishment of the hospital’s radiotherapy centre and the supply of cancer treatment machines.

Moyo allegedly wrote to Mpilo Central Hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Lawrence Mantiziba on February 12 to ask for a guard because she felt “unsafe.”

Moyo reportedly told detectives that Mpofu had shown her a gun and told her the hospital could not cancel his tender, adding that a directive would come from Harare to reverse the decision and allow his company, New Planet, to continue with the construction work.

According to the summons filed at the Bulawayo High Court on February 24, Mpofu is the plaintiff while Moyo was cited as the defendant.

Mpofu who, is a self actor in the matter, stated in the plaintiff’s declaration that the statements uttered by Moyo were malicious and defamatory.

“On February 17, 2015 in the edition of The Chronicle, defendant (Moyo) caused to be published defamatory statements about plaintiff, which statements were not only defamatory but false and meant to mislead the public regarding the projects that I’m doing for the government of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mpofu also denied claims by Moyo that he was a corrupt and unscrupulous businessman and a “touting gangster.”

“The allegations that I’m a touting gangster, a fraudster and corrupt businessman are unfounded and false and solely meant to defame me and tarnish my good social standing as well as influence the government to cease dealing with my company,” he said.

Mpofu said following Moyo’s statements, people were now shunning him on social media.

“Statements made by defendant were malicious and as a result I’m being shunned in social media and whenever people spot me during social events they start speaking in hushed voices and I feel emotionally abused.”

Mpofu is also claiming interest at prescribed rate of five percent per annum from the date of summons to the date of full and final payment and the cost of the suit at attorney-client scale.

Moyo has up to Tuesday next week to enter an appearance to defend herself against the summons at the offices of the Registrar of High Court in Bulawayo.

Mpofu owns Ashy’s supermarkets, commuter omnibuses, cross-border buses and a petrol station in Nkulumane. He also runs a number of tender projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa.