Tinotenda Hove – The High Court has ordered opposition politician and lawyer Fadzayi Mahere to pay US$33,000 in legal costs following a procedural setback in her ongoing defamation dispute with Youth Empowerment Minister Tino Machakaire.

The ruling came after Mahere filed a preliminary legal challenge—known as a special plea—arguing that Machakaire’s lawsuit did not establish valid grounds for a defamation claim.

Through the application, she sought to have the minister’s case dismissed on the basis that it lacked a proper cause of action.

However, the court determined that Mahere’s filing had been submitted outside the permitted timeframe. As a result, the application was removed from the court roll, and she was ordered to cover the legal costs arising from the failed challenge.

Machakaire’s lawyer, Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, initially presented a bill of about US$43,000 for handling the matter. After the costs were examined by the taxing master—an officer responsible for reviewing legal fees—the amount was reduced to US$33,000.

On March 7, Chinyoka secured a writ of execution authorising the High Court Sheriff to seize Mahere’s assets if necessary to recover the outstanding amount.

Despite the order, the recovery process may be paused. Mahere’s legal team has filed an urgent court application requesting a suspension of the writ while simultaneously seeking a review of the costs ruling. Her lawyers have described the legal fees claimed by Machakaire’s counsel as excessive.
The dispute stems from comments Mahere posted on X in July 2025, where she questioned Machakaire’s alleged connection to a US$8 million tax evasion case linked to imported vehicles.

In response, Machakaire launched a defamation lawsuit, arguing that Mahere’s statements falsely implied he was involved in corruption and had harmed his reputation.

Mahere has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that her remarks were made in the public interest as part of efforts to hold public officials accountable. Her legal representatives argue that citizens have a constitutional right to scrutinise government leaders in the interest of transparency.

The legal confrontation deepened when Mahere filed a counterclaim, accusing Machakaire of making defamatory statements about her.

According to court documents, the minister allegedly claimed she had improperly secured her place in the law faculty at the University of Zimbabwe despite lacking the required academic points.

He is also accused of making a series of insulting remarks about her professional success and personal conduct.
Both defamation cases remain before the courts and are yet to be determined.