Zim Now Reporter
Rutendo Manyarare who is pursuing a GMO suit against Innscor has been convicted of contempt of court and given a fully suspended three months sentence in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Matinyarare is committed to a period of imprisonment of three months, which committal is suspended on condition that he does not disseminate, directly or indirectly, false and defamatory allegations pertaining to the Innscor Africa and Koudounaris, or in any other manner breach the orders by judges Siwendu and Wanless,” ruled Justice Gcina Malindi of the Gauteng Division of the High Court
Malindi found Matinyarare in contempt of two judgements by different judges after persisting with a social media campaign making various allegations against Innscor and its founder.
Matinyarare accused Innscor of selling GMO foods in Zimbabwe, and also labelled Koudounaris a “Rhodie”, which means white Rhodesian. Koudounaris is of Greek descent and did not arrive in Zimbabwe until the mid-1980s.
In a ruling on January 9, 2024, Justice Thina Siwendu ordered Matinyarare to take down the defamatory posts on Facebook and X, and to desist from posting any further unsubstantiated claims against Innscor and Koudounaris.
Matinyarare wrote more defamatory posts about Innscor and Koudounaris between February 28 and March 5, 2024.
On March 20, Justice Brad Wanless granted Innscor a second relief against Matinyarare and ordered him to delete any slanderous posts on Innscor and Koudounaris, and to desist from making further offensive posts.
Justice Malindi said Matinyarare was in contempt of both orders as he granted Innscor’s application to have him committed to jail.
The judge said Matinyarare was also liable for Innscor and Koudounaris’ legal costs “on an attorney client scale, including the costs of two counsel on scale C (maximum rate).”
Matinyarare is also facing another suit by his former lawyer in the case, Simba Chitando. Chitanda has filed a criminal complaint alleging that Matinyarare lied to the High Court when he claimed he was unaware of the court judgements against him.
Chitando wants him arrested and charged with perjury.
Chitando is also alleging that Matinyarare had informed him that his new lawyers were being paid by Simon Rudland a perceived rival of Koudounaris.
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