Moyo’s lawyer Job Sibanda, of Job Sibanda and Associates noted that initially, Prof Moyo had demanded $2 billion and that when the Zimbabwe currency was revalued in August last year, the amount shrunk to $2 million which was substituted with yet another amendment for $200 million.

He said the hyper-inflationary economic climate had forced his client to make yet another final amendment and was now requesting $100 billion for damages in defamation.

Nkomo’s defence counsel, Francis Chirimuuta of Chirimuuta and Associates said they were not opposed to the application.

The two counsels agreed at the close of the defence case that they would make written submissions with Justice Francis Bere setting the first week of December as the date of the judgement.

Sibanda will submit his written submissions by the end of this month, while Chirimuuta, who will not be available, was given 30 October as the deadline for the submission of his written submissions.

Addressing the two counsels, Justice Bere told them to address the issue of costs especially in view of the fact that Prof Moyo at some stage dropped the lawsuit against Zanu PF politburo member, Dumiso Dabengwa.

He also asked them to address the court on the issue of the quantum and that on the assessment of evidence, they should address the issue of the minutes of a meeting in Tsholotsho District held on January 12, 2005, where Nkomo allegedly uttered the defaming words.

The judge wants to know if the minutes should be accepted as a true reflection of what transpired at the meeting given that both counsels centred their cross-examination on the minutes.

The taker of the minutes, Kembo Tshuma, who gave contradictory evidence at the beginning of the week, maintained that the minutes were a true reflection of what happened on the day of the meeting.

He also admitted under cross-examination that they were a summary of what transpired adding that he could have missed some of the issues that were raised in the long trial.

Prof Moyo dragged Nkomo to court last year seeking to prove that Nkomo had defamed him by accusing him of being a mastermind behind an alleged “smart coup” to topple President Mugabe and his deputies.