Harare Man Arrested For Cyber Bullying His Former Landlord Through The ‘Name And Shame’ Platform

How the dispute arose

Mtandi had been renting an apartment owned by Togara at Sentosa Gardens, located in Mabelreign, Harare. On October 17, Mtandi informed Togara of his intention to vacate the property at the end of the month. In a text message, he explained the move was due to his family’s growing needs, as they required a larger living space.

“Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be moving out at the end of this month. Family is growing and the wife requested a bigger apartment. Let me know how I can help to make this transition as smooth as possible,” Mtandi wrote.

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According to their lease agreement, the deposit would cover the loss of rental income for November, during which Togara could not find a new tenant and any damages to the property. In a text message, Togara explained:

“That particular flat is mine and check our lease. It was a short notice, and the whole of November I could not get a tenant. So, because of that short notice, I am not able to give you your deposit back as it covers for rental loss and the short notice, not even mentioning the damages.”

He further advised Mtandi to address the matter through legal channels if necessary, suggesting that both parties communicate through their respective lawyers.

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Social Media Defamation through Name and Shame

This response made Mtandi take to social media to air his grievances. He posted damaging claims about Togara on the popular social media page “Name & Shame Them (Zim),” accusing him of unethical behaviour. In one of his posts, Mtandi alleged:

“We now have Pam Golding Properties Zimbabwe agents taking advantage of tenants. One of their agents, McDonald Togara, has a record of inflating repair costs so that he can pocket the money. He has denied paying out Sentosa Gardens tenants their deposit when they move out, and this has been happening for a while now.”

It was later revealed that Mtandi’s accusations were baseless. Togara reported the defamatory posts to the authorities, citing reputational damage and harassment.

Tenant Faces Legal Consequences For Cyber Bullying

Realizing the severity of his actions, Mtandi reportedly deleted some of the posts and even sought forgiveness from Togara. However, the damage had already been done, and Togara filed a police report. The authorities arrested Mtandi, charging him with cyberbullying and defamation.