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Woman sues former business partner for defamation

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ZIMBABWEAN businesswoman Ireen Mvududu has dragged her South African former business partner, Brennam De Bruyn, to court demanding $9 500 defamation damages following their ugly fallout.

ZIMBABWEAN businesswoman Ireen Mvududu has dragged her South African former business partner, Brennam De Bruyn, to court demanding $9 500 defamation damages following their ugly fallout.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

The two are former partners at Kwekwe-based Dazzle Super Stores, which was officially opened by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a colourful ceremony last year before Mvududu was allegedly elbowed out of the business venture.

Mvududu has filed a $9 500 civil suit against De Bruyn accusing him of maliciously causing her arrest following their fallout.

Through her lawyer Valentaine Mutatu, in case number 1233/16, Mvududu accuses De Bruyn of maliciously causing her arrest in August over allegations that she had stolen their partnership agreement.

Mvududu spent a night in police cells and was taken to court, where prosecution was declined for lack of evidence.

She alleges that owing to the arrest and subsequent court appearance, De Bruyn should compensate her for defamation.

“The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of defendant’s conduct being $2 500 in legal fees and $7 000 being damages suffered by plaintiff in depravation of liberty and discomfort,” reads part of the claim.

De Bruyn has since entered an appearance to defend through his lawyer, Liberty Mashanyare, saying he made a report to the police not out of malice, but because he genuinely believed Mvududu had stolen the documents from his office.

He argues that only Mvududu had keys to access his office from where the documents were allegedly stolen and, therefore, did not have any malicious intent when he made the report.

De Bruyn further states that the lawsuit is a case of sour grapes following his refusal to renew their business contract.