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MATABELELAND North governor Sithokozile Mathuthu has won a $30 million defamation suit against the Financial Gazette newspaper by default after the paper failed to file papers opposing the suit.

Mathuthu wants damages over a series of stories in the Financial Gazette suggesting she had blown taxpayers' money through lavish spending at a Bulawayo hotel.

The Matabeleland North governor is also suing the weekly Standard newspaper for repeating the Financial Gazette claims.

The Fingaz's lawyers from Atherstone and Cook failed to attend a pre-trial conference before a judge issued a summary judgment on Tuesday.

Linda Cook, representing the Financial Gazette, on Wednesday said they would apply for rescission of judgment.

She said she indicated to Mathuthu and her lawyers during a pre-trial conference concerning the Standard case that she intended to apply to the High Court for an order consolidating the two actions for the purposes of trial.
The newspapers reported that Mathuthu, also a member of the Zanu PF's Central Committee and Politburo, blew $2 million (new currency) on food and accommodation during her stay at a five star Bulawayo hotel.

Mathuthu insists her stay in the hotel “did not cost the government anywhere near the amount of $2 million alleged in the article."
The governor has a house in one of the high-density suburbs in the city.

According to court documents, Mathuthu does not deny staying in a top hotel on a government account but queries the Financial Gazette's claim that she spent $2 million in tax payers' money.
Mathuthu also denies any involvement in an alleged attempt to restructure the ruling Zanu PF party's top power structure, a plot allegedly hatched in Tsholotsho by leading Zanu PF figures opposed to Joice Mujuru's bid for the vice presidency.

Mathuthu said she had a “good name and reputation, which were damaged by the said articles”.
Her lawyers said in court papers: “Mathuthu denies that she is in any way associated with the Tsholotsho group of political plotters and that her visit to the area had any other agenda other than government business."

She also denied that President Robert Mugabe summoned her over the incident.
“The reports were unlawful, false and malicious…They were understood bythe ordinary public to portray the plaintiff as an irresponsible, dishonest,reckless, insensitive, nauseating, arrogant, corrupt, treacherous personwhose lavish extravagance knows no bounds,” the papers said.
Meanwhile New Zimbabwe sources say Lydia Mavhengere and Ishmael Kadungure are set to appointed , as the General Managers for TV and Radio Services respectively.
The UK- based website says Alson Mufiri will be named as Mavhengere's deputy and Admire Taderera will deputise Kadungure.
Tazzen Mandizvidza will be confirmed as head of news while Robson Mhandu will move to Gweru to head a new Radio Station called 247 SW, which will broadcast on the short wave frequency in direct competition with the Voice of America’s Studio 7, and SW Radio Africa, which broadcasts from London.
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