By a Correspondent
Zimind Publishers (Private) Limited has taken 36 of its employees to the High Court of Zimbabwe, demanding US$100,000 in damages over alleged defamatory statements made about the company and its chairman, Trevor Ncube.
ZimInd Publishers owns NewsDay, the Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent, among other interests.
According to summons filed at the High Court in Harare on September 25, 2026, the newspaper publisher is also seeking interest, legal costs and an order compelling the employees to issue an unconditional retraction and apology.
The defendants include Problem Masawi, Kudakwashe Calvin Gahadzikwa, Austin Regai Karonga, Lorraine Muromo, Melody Chikono, Evans Mathanda, Silas Nkala, Harriet Chikandiwa, Fortune Mbele and Hilary Maradzika, among others.
The employees are being represented by the Zimbabwe Graphical Workers Union.
The case stems from an all-staff meeting held on March 5, 2026, which was chaired and addressed by the company’s board chairman.
Zimind claims that employees had been expressly instructed not to use their mobile phones while the chairman was addressing the meeting.
However, the company alleges that the 36 employees deliberately disregarded the instruction and used their mobile phones to circulate what it describes as false, misleading and defamatory statements about the company and its chairman.
According to the court papers, the employees allegedly sent derogatory messages about Zimind to other newspapers, media houses and journalists, while some of the statements were allegedly published or shared on social media platforms, including LinkedIn.
The alleged statements included claims that Zimind was “cruel and insensitive” towards its employees and that the chairman was similarly cruel and insensitive.
The company further alleges that the employees accused it of withholding workers’ monthly dues and salaries out of malice and corruption, and of accumulating salary arrears through the negligence of the chairman and managers.
Zimind denies the allegations, arguing that the statements were false and that the company was not in arrears, had not withheld employees’ monthly dues and had not acted with cruelty or negligence.
The publisher told the court that the alleged statements damaged its reputation, goodwill and public image as a newspaper company.
It further alleges that the statements were intentionally published to third parties, including journalists and members of the public, and that some of the defendants continued repeating the allegations after the initial publication.
Zimind claims US$100,000 in damages for the alleged injury to its reputation, dignity and business standing.
The company also claims that the defendants have shown no remorse, have not retracted the alleged statements and have not apologised despite demands and disciplinary proceedings.
In addition to the monetary claim, Zimind is asking the High Court to order the employees to publish an unconditional retraction and apology in the same media platforms, including LinkedIn, where the alleged defamatory statements were published.
The company is also seeking an order barring the defendants from further publishing, sharing or disseminating statements it considers defamatory against Zimind and its chairman.
The summons states that the defendants have 10 days after being served to enter an appearance to defend the claim. If they fail to do so, the High Court may hear and determine the matter without further notice to them.
The proceedings were instituted by Magoge Law, the legal practitioners representing Zimind Publishers.
