FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has filed a $1,1 million defamation lawsuit against TN Harlequin Luxaire Limited, accusing the furniture company of causing the publication of a story where he was said to have failed to settle an $87 000 debt incurred while he was still in government.
Paidamoyo Muzulu
Mutambara, through his lawyers Matsikidze and Mucheche, yesterday served TN Harlequin Luxaire lawyers Mtetwa and Nyambirai with the summons.
Mutambara argued that the furniture debt was contracted by the Government of Zimbabwe as part of his conditions of service as the Deputy Premier.
Mutambara said: “In the first place, there was never a loan agreement or purchase arrangement between the defendant and the plaintiff. In spite of this, the defendant takes the debt incurred by the government of about $43 000, puts an interest rate of 40% per annum and then claims it from the plaintiff.”
He added; “For his services as a Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe, the latter officially bought for him furniture from the defendant as part of his conditions of service. This arrangement was done for all the then three occupants of the Government of Zimbabwe Premiership, the Prime Minister and the two Deputy Prime Ministers.”
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Mutambara said the article had injured his reputation as a former top government official and prominent politician in Zimbabwe.