Journalists sued for over US$100,000 Defamation Suit, after going months without pay

By Staff Reporter

HARARE — Zimbabwe Independent publisher ZimInd Publishers has taken 36 of its employees to the High Court, demanding US$100,000 in damages over alleged defamatory statements made against the company and its owner, Trevor Ncube.

The company issued summons against the employees on 29 September, accusing them of defamation and injuria arising from comments allegedly circulated following an internal staff meeting earlier this year.

The employees are being sued jointly and severally, with Problem Masawi listed as the head of the group cited in the court papers.

Under the arrangement, ZimInd could recover the full amount awarded from any one of the defendants, although it cannot recover the same damages more than once.

The dispute reportedly stems from an all-staff meeting held on 5 March 2026 and chaired by Ncube.

According to ZimInd's court papers, employees attending the meeting were instructed to put away their mobile phones. The publisher alleges, however, that several workers ignored the directive and continued using their phones during the meeting.

The company further alleges that employees exchanged messages during Ncube's address, with some of the messages subsequently being shared with journalists and media organisations.

Some of the alleged messages were also reportedly posted on social media platforms, including LinkedIn.

ZimInd claims the employees portrayed the company and Ncube as “cruel” and “insensitive” and made allegations concerning the alleged withholding of salaries and monthly dues.

The publisher also alleges that the workers blamed management for accumulated salary arrears.

ZimInd has denied the allegations, insisting that the claims were false and known by the employees to be false.

The company has specifically rejected accusations that it withheld salaries or monthly dues and has also denied allegations of cruelty, corruption and negligence.

Through the lawsuit, ZimInd is seeking US$100,000 in damages from the 36 employees.

The case pits one of Zimbabwe's prominent media publishers against its own employees and is now before the High Court.

The allegations contained in the court papers remain claims at this stage and will have to be tested and determined through the judicial process.

This version keeps the allegations clearly attributed to ZimInd and avoids presenting disputed claims as established facts.