Benson Rutendo Manyarare, a prominent Zanu PF activist, narrowly escaped a three-month jail sentence for contempt of court after a ruling by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa. The court found Manyarare guilty of defying two separate judgments by continuing to vilify Innscor Africa and its principal shareholder, Zinona Koudounaris, through a sustained social media campaign.
Justice Gcina Malindi presided over the case and suspended Manyarare’s prison term because he refrained from making further defamatory remarks about Innscor Africa and Koudounaris. Manyarare had previously accused Innscor of selling genetically modified foods in Zimbabwe and disparagingly labeled Koudounaris as a “Rhodie,” despite her Greek descent and late arrival in Zimbabwe.
The legal saga began with a ruling by Justice Thina Siwendu on January 9, 2024, instructing Manyarare to remove defamatory posts from Facebook and cease making unsubstantiated allegations against Innscor and Koudounaris. However, Manyarare persisted, prompting a subsequent ruling from Justice Brad Wanless on March 20, 2024, reinforcing the earlier order and demanding the removal of offensive content.
Manyarare continued his online campaign despite these directives, leading to his contempt of court conviction. Justice Malindi emphasized the seriousness of the offense but opted to suspend the imprisonment, cautioning Manyarare against any future breaches of the court orders.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Manyarare was ordered to cover the legal costs of Innscor and Koudounaris, including fees for two counsels. Meanwhile, his former lawyer, Simba Chitando, has filed a criminal complaint against Manyarare, alleging perjury for misleading the High Court about his awareness of the judgments against him.
The case highlights the intersection of social media activism and legal accountability, underscoring the judiciary’s role in safeguarding reputational integrity amid contentious public discourse.
In other news – Australian authorities apprehend 83-Year-Old in heroin smuggling bust
An 83-year-old man has been arrested by Australian authorities for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the country. He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court where he faces charges related to drug possession. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 3.
The suspect, a UK national, was reportedly apprehended at Melbourne Airport with two kilograms of a controlled substance. According to a joint statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF), the man came under scrutiny after an X-ray scan of his carry-on bags revealed a concealed white substance in his black duffel bag. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be heroin. Read More
