Kambwili denies defaming PF SG, says his words were factual
By Staff Reporter
CHISHIMBA Kambwili has filed a defence in a case in which PF secretary general Davies Mwila sued him for defamation stating that the words the latter complained of were true in substance and in fact.
This is in a matter in which Mwila sued Kambwili in December last year for defamation.
This was after Kambwili alleged among other issues, that he knew the person who wrote grade 12 examinations for Mwila.
Mwila dragged him to court, claiming punitive and exemplary damages, saying the words which Kambwili uttered lowered him in the estimation of right thinking members of society and have generally brought him into public ridicule, scandal, odium, hatred and contempt.
He claimed that parts of the press briefing relating to him impute traits of dishonest, bad faith, lack of respect for the education system and also that he was not fit to be a leader and further that he was a fraudster.
Before Kambwili filed his defence, Mwila had asked the court to enter an interlocutory judgment against the National Democratic Congress president due to non-appearance and filing of defence.
He wanted the court to order Kambwili to pay him damages for defamation.
But deputy Lusaka High Court Aridah Chulu ordered that the case proceeds to be heard on merit following Kambwili’s filing of defence.
And Kambwili has argued that that there was no malice in his statement against Mwila.
He stated that the words complained of were justified and a fair comment made in good faith and without malice.
He added that the words complained of did not bear and were not capable of bearing or understood to bear the meaning alleged by Mwila.
Kambwili further stated that the words complained of in their natural meaning and ordinary meaning were true in substance and in fact, adding that Mwila was therefore, not entitled to any of the reliefs he was asking the court to grant him.
