Chakwera sued for defamation over Chaponda’s anti-north remarks
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera has been sued for slander and defamation.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) treasurer general George Chaponda took out the legal suit against Chakwera over the remarks he made to the media that Chaponda said DPP did not need the Northern Region vote to win the May 20 Tripartite Elections.
Chaponda is seeking damages for defamation and embarrassment caused in the eyes of reasonable or right thinking members of society and aggravated or punitive damages for stigma, doubts or suspicions caused in the minds of right thinking members of society.
He is also praying for exemplary damages as a result of his suffering as a senior member of a leading opposition political party with firm expectations to get his party to the election that could result in his party taking the reign of power to lead Malawi.
Chaponda, through his lawyers Sikwese and Company, is accusing Chakwera of defaming him to the worst exaggeration ever.
He said he has proceeded for litigation after he demand for a public apology within three days has been snubbed by Chakwera.
In an interview yesterday, Chaponda said after three days elapsed on Tuesday, he had instructed his lawyers to go ahead claiming damages for slander and defamation.
“The MCP are saying they can’t apologise because I made these claims, so we will meet in court so they can prove their claims,” he said.
Chakwera told reporters that the DPP official is reported to have told a media house that DPP won the 2009 elections because it had national appeal not because of support from the Northern Region.
Chaponda was quoted to have said: “Let me challenge you. We will win in May without people from the North voting for us.”
MCP secretary general and member of the party’s legal team, Gustave Kaliwo, said as MCP, they stood by what Chakwera said in connection with Chaponda, saying the party “will prove it.”
Chaponda said he will go all the way to fight this case, saying his reputation is being badly lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of society.
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