Zanu PF Zvishavane-Ngezi legislator Mecky Jaravaza is being sued for US$50 000 by a local businesswoman who claims he falsely implicated her in a robbery case that saw her spend a month in remand prison and endure a three-year criminal trial before being acquitted.
Svevedzerai Mazorodze is seeking damages for alleged malicious arrest, detention, harassment, prosecution and loss of business, arguing that the accusations levelled against her in 2022 were fabricated.
According to court papers, Mazorodze was arrested alongside four other suspects on robbery charges after Jaravaza allegedly reported to police that she had been part of the gang that targeted him.
The case, however, collapsed in January 2025 when she was discharged at the close of the State's case.
In the summons, Mazorodze alleges that Jaravaza's report to police set in motion years of legal battles and personal hardship.
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“Sometimes in 2022, the defendant made a false report to the police that the plaintiff had been part of a gang that robbed him. As a result of the false report, the plaintiff was arrested and detained by the police,” reads part of the summons.
“The defendant went on to cause malicious prosecution of the plaintiff in the Zvishavane Magistrates Court. The prosecution, however, ended with the discharge of the plaintiff at the close of the State case in January 2025.”
Mazorodze says the prolonged prosecution had devastating consequences on her livelihood and wellbeing.
“As a result of the unlawful actions of the defendant, the plaintiff went through periods of stress from 2022 up to the time of her acquittal. She will state that she felt extremely harassed. She lost a lot of business as a result,” the court papers state.
During the criminal trial, Jaravaza testified that Mazorodze had allegedly visited him after the robbery and confessed to directing the robbers to his home. However, the claim was not corroborated by other witnesses, including members of his family who were present.
Mazorodze is now seeking US$50 000 in damages, arguing that the prosecution against her was founded on false information.
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