Harare - Zimbabwe's Security Minister Didymus Mutasa is suing a state prosecutor and a private newspaper for defamation, reports said on Friday.
Prosecutor Levyson Chikafu and the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper are each being sued for 100 million Zimbabwe dollars (R2,8-million), the state-controlled Herald reports.
Chikafu was served with court papers on Thursday afternoon that accuse him of making malicious and reckless comments about Mutasa. The Zimbabwe Independent reproduced the prosecutors words.
The comments were made during the trial of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Chinamasa is facing charges of obstructing the course of justice after he allegedly tried to persuade at least one witness not to testify against Mutasa's supporters, who were being tried for public violence.
Twenty of the supporters were jailed for two years in March, but Mutasa did not face charges.
In its August 4 edition, the Zimbabwe Independent quoted the prosecutor in Chinamasa's trial as telling the court that Mutasa was a powerful person whose wings must be clipped to the greatest extent.
"The fact that he has not been brought for trial does not mean that he is not coming," Chikafu was quoted as saying.
Mutasa hit back, saying Chikafu had slandered him.
The minister's defamation suit reads: "Our client views your comments as not barely malicious and reckless but also slanderous. Your comments were and are in fact defamatory of his character, office and repute."
"You exceeded whatever privilege accorded to you as public prosecutor," the suit added.
Meanwhile, Chinamasa's trial is continuing in the eastern town of Rusape, the Herald said. The minister claims the charges against him are trumped up. - Sapa-dpa