Mandaza loses bid in court

By Violet Gonda
11 October 2005

Dr Ibbo Mandaza the publisher of the Zimbabwe Mirror Group of Newspapers has lost his bid in the High Court, challenging his suspension as chairman. Mandaza was pushed out by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). He took his case to the courts hoping to regain control of the newspapers he founded.

The High Court dismissed the challenge saying his suspension was procedural and the board that suspended him had been properly constituted.

The Mirror Group publishes The Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror.

A brief press statement released last week by Mirror Group chairman Jonathan Kadzura and vice-chairman Jonathan Marangwanda said Mandaza’s suspension follows the forensic report published to the board by Ernst and Young auditors, accusing him of siphoning money from the group.

A defiant Mandaza says he is the sole owner of the group. He instructed his lawyers to fight the dismissal and re-establish his control of the Group, now thought to be 70 percent-owned by the intelligence services.

The CIO controls three newspapers; The Financial Gazette and Mirror titles.