Harare – A high-stakes social media confrontation ended with a public apology Thursday after businessman Rutendo Matinyarare mistakenly accused prominent Advocate Thabani Mpofu of being linked to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and an allegedly flawed charge sheet.

Matinyarare initially claimed Mpofu was the advocate associated with Chivayo and what he termed an “incompetent charge sheet.” The accusation drew an immediate and blistering response from Mpofu.

“I’ll treat this as a mistake but if you do not delete your nonsense there will be consequences,” Mpofu wrote. “This is beneath you. After withdrawing, go and apologise to the sorry tree that gave you the oxygen you used when writing these falsehoods.”

Within hours, Matinyarare reversed course, issuing a full and humbling retraction.

“Advocate I owe you an apology and yes, I am humbly walking to the sorry tree for sullying your good name because it has been confirmed to me that Wicknell Chivayo’s advocate who is associated with the incompetent charge sheet is your brother Skumbuzo Mpofu and not you,” Matinyarare stated.

He added: “It’s important for a man to know when he is wrong.”

In a notable twist, Matinyarare then questioned whether being associated with Chivayo—a businessman frequently embroiled in controversy—and the case in question should carry such reputational weight, asking: “By the way, is it that reputation damaging to be associated with Wicknell and this case?”

As of publication, it remains unclear whether Thabani Mpofu has accepted the apology or intends to pursue further action.