Zimpapers Fends Off Deputy Sheriff

February 17, 2016
Paidamoyo Chipunza
Zimbabwe Herald
Senior Reporter

The Deputy Sheriff of the High Court yesterday failed to attach and remove Zimpapers property, in accordance with a court order issued last December for the payment of US$48 409 in favour of one Innocent Manyange following payment of the required amount.

In a statement, a Zimpapers spokesperson said the company then immediately applied for a stay of execution to stop the Deputy Sheriff from disbursing the money to Manyange, as it sought the judgment to be set aside.

Zimpapers said it was still defending the case and contesting the conversion rate and procedure used to obtain the court order.

“The Deputy Sheriff of the High Court came to Herald House yesterday to attach and remove Zimpapers property, enforcing a court order issued on 11 December last year for the payment of US$48 409 in favour of Innocent Manyange.

“The removal of property was stopped when Zimpapers paid the amount. Zimpapers immediately applied for a stay of execution to stop the Deputy Sheriff from disbursing the money to Manyange, as it is seeking that the judgment be set aside,” said Zimpapers in a statement.

In 2002, Manyange who was then employed by the High Court, sued The Sunday Mail, its then news editor, Ronald Imbayago, and reporter Weston Kwete (now late) and Zimpapers for defamation damages.

Manyange won his case and was awarded Z$1,5 million in 2006.

However, Zimpapers was only served with the judgment in 2014. Subsequently, Manyange applied to the High Court to convert the amount into United States dollars at a rate of US1$ to Z$55 from which he obtained a court order, which formed the basis of the aborted attachment.