Chakwera won’t pay Chaponda, to defend defamation suit

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Gustave Kaliwo, who is also an attorney for the party’s president Lazarous Chakwera , has said the opposition leader will defend himself against a defamations lawsuit by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda.

Chaponda sued Chakwera over remarks he made in the heat of the May 20 Tripartite Elections campaign.

The High Court in Lilongwe found Chakwera’s claims libellous when it entered a default judgement.

But Kaliwo said default judgement was “irregural” as it was obtained after the defendant had filed a notice of intention to defend and served documents on time.

He said the defence entered defence four days after being sued but claims Chaponda’s lawyer, Chimwemwe Sikwese, failed to incorporate the same.

Kaliwo said Chakwera is set to defend himself from the case in a full trial where both parties will be expected to testify in court before assessing damages.

The High Court has sinceset aside judgement and given the defence seven days to put a notice of intention to defend.

Chakwera is reported to have told journalists on his return from the United States of America on March 4 2014 at Kamuzu International Airport  that Chaponda said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the 2009 general election because it had national appeal not because of support from the Northern Region.

Chaponda is quoted to have responded: “Let me challenge you, we will win in May without people from the North voting for us.”