Mai Titi Slapped with $US100-000 Defamation Suit Over Social Media Allegations
n By Staff Reporter n nn n Popular but often controversial comedian Felistas Murata, widely recognized by her stage name Mai Titi, is facing a US$100,000 defamation lawsuit brought forward by Harare businesswoman Shingai Ziwange-Jere. n nn
anostrofy By Staff Reporter
Popular but often controversial comedian Felistas Murata, widely recognized by her stage name Mai Titi, is facing a US$100,000 defamation lawsuit brought forward by Harare businesswoman Shingai Ziwange-Jere.
Ziwange-Jere is the spouse of Farai Jere, the owner of CAPS United Football Club and Member of Parliament for Murehwa West.
The legal action arises from remarks made by Murata on her Facebook page, Mai T’s Diaries, where she accused Ziwange-Jere of issuing death threats and manipulating Zimbabwe’s justice system to serve her own interests.
Represented by Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, Ziwange-Jere issued a formal demand for Murata to publicly retract the allegations, delete all related content, and issue an apology within 12 hours of receiving the legal notice, which was delivered Friday evening.
In the letter, the legal team stated that there was "no iota of truth" whatsoever in the statements you made, which were obviously intended to solely sully and tarnish our client’s reputation and esteem.
They further claimed that Murata’s post had malicious intent and was aimed at gaining online attention and popularity at the expense of their client’s dignity.
The lawyers accused Murata of fabricating an elaborate and harmful narrative, likening it to a script from a fictional neo-noir African movie.
The defamatory statements, according to the legal complaint, portray Ziwange-Jere as someone who, operates with impunity and hires criminals to harm others, including Murata, engages in illegal surveillance of Murata’s home, threatens violence and death and manipulates the judicial system in Zimbabwe, particularly in connection with a dispute involving another socialite, Patricia Jack.
Ziwange-Jere has no ties to Zimbabwe’s legal system, the lawyers said, nor any power to influence its proceedings.
They noted that these false claims had reached an international audience and caused significant reputational damage, especially given her extensive local and international business relationships.
Despite Murata’s later efforts to remove some of the inflammatory posts and comments, the legal team said the damage had already been done.
“The digital footprint you left continues to affect our client,” the letter said.
The lawyers argued that Murata is deflecting attention from her own issues by blaming their client for unrelated problems, which has now jeopardized Ziwange-Jere’s professional standing.
They warned that she stands to lose key business deals due to the public fallout from the accusations.
