Nankhumwa drags Mpinganjira, 3 DPP officials to court over defamation

Cracks are refusing to mend in the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as Nyasa Times has  confirmed that  estranged DPP Vice President for the South, Kondwani Nankhumwa, has now dragged the party’s spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira and regional governor for the South, Charles Mchacha to court for defamation.

Two other senior officials being sued for alleged defamation are Sheik Imran Mtenje who is the first defendant, Zeria Chakale (second defendant).

Mpinganjira and Mchacha are third and fourth defendants, respectively.

Nankhumwa is claiming damages for the assertions the four made during a recent press briefing where they alleged that the Leader of Opposition is the one who sponsored thugs who disrupted a DPP press briefing at the Crown Hotel in Lilongwe.

The court summons seen by Nyasa Times indicates that Chakale singled Nankhumwa out as the sponsor of the violence that saw Mpinganjira receiving a blow on his right cheek.

“Specifically, the 2nd Defendant (Chakale) used the following words:  ..sikoyamba zikuchitika zimenezi panachitikanso patakhala disciplinary committee koma Nankhumwa anaitanidwa kuti akafunsidwe nkhani zake zokhazokha anabweranso ndi zigawenga ndi aziwembu ndikupanganso chiwembu chimodzimodzi. Nde sikoyamba, sikutinsotikudabwa… ” The words published by the 2nd Defendant literally translate as follows;  this is not the first time for this has to happen, it has happened before when we invited Mr. Nankhumwa to a disciplinary committee to answer similar charges, and he also came with thugs and committed similar attacks. So it’s not the first time and we are not surprised… ” reads part of the summons.

Nankhumwa lawyers, Clarkes Attorneys, argue that in their ordinary meaning, the said words equivocally mean and were meant to mean that he is a habitual criminal, crooked, not fit to be Leader of Opposition in Parliament, not fit to be Member of Parliament, not fit to be the Vice President of the Democratic Progressive Party for the Southern Region and that he is not fit to hold any public position.

The court has given the four DPP official  28 days to file and serve a defence and list of documents. They say failure to do so may result in a default judgment being entered.

Sharing is caring!