Rudland Demands Apology From ZBC Over Alleged Funding Of Anti-Government Protests

Lawyers for businessman Simon Rudland have demanded that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) retract a “defamatory” article that accused him of financing violent protests aimed at toppling President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The broadcaster was given two days to remove the piece under threat of legal action.

Rudland’s lawyer, Norman Chimuka of Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys, wrote to ZBC CEO Sugar Chagonda on Tuesday, insisting on “a full, unconditional, and unreserved withdrawal” of the article, along with “an expression of regret” over the claims made about Rudland.

The ZBC article, published on 10 March, was titled: “Kasukuwere, Mambondiyani plot violent protest using Biti’s forum, ZINASU and bloggers as fronts.”

It alleged that Rudland was “the major sponsor of these machinations” and had “wired substantial amounts of money to bankroll the demonstrations, with more expected from his foreign networks.”

The report named Rudland alongside self-exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere and activist Danmore Mambondiyani, claiming the trio were attempting to “orchestrate violent mass protests aimed at effecting unconstitutional regime change.”

According to the article, this effort was to be carried out by backing the Constitutional Defenders Forum, a new organisation led by former finance minister Tendai Biti, which opposes ZANU-PF’s plan to extend President Mnangagwa’s term by two years.

Rudland’s lawyers said any reasonable reader would interpret the statements to mean that he was “financing plans to violently and unconstitutionally overthrow an elected government,” effectively amounting to an allegation of treason.

They added that ZBC published the article “without contacting our client for verification, as required by professional and responsible journalism.” The letter says:

“The article falsely imputes treasonous actions to our client while relying on and hiding behind unverified sources.”

The lawyers warned that if ZBC does not retract the article, Rudland will pursue an injunction and claim damages “without further notice.”

More: ZimLive