The High Court of Zimbabwe has thrown out a defamation lawsuit filed by Prophet Miracle Paul, born Tendai Chipara, against online content creator Innocent Goveya.
Chipara had sought US$100,000 in damages, claiming Goveya defamed him in a viral TikTok and YouTube video by calling him a “fake prophet,” which he said led to reputational damage, emotional distress, and the loss of endorsement deals.
Filed in 2024 under case HCH2306/24, Chipara’s claim alleged the video spread widely across social media platforms, resulting in public ridicule and financial losses. However, Goveya’s legal team challenged the claim, arguing that it lacked clarity and failed to cite the exact words considered defamatory.
On 13 June 2025, the court upheld the objection, ruling that the lawsuit was vague and legally insufficient. The judge noted that Chipara did not adequately demonstrate how the statements were defamatory under the law.
A separate attempt by Chipara to add another respondent to the case was also dismissed earlier in January due to procedural errors.
As a result, the court ordered Chipara to cover Goveya’s legal costs, which have exceeded US$25,000.
The ruling brings an end to a high-profile case that ultimately failed to meet the required legal standards to proceed to trial.
