Chaponda loses first round against Times in defamation case

March 28, 2018 Chancy Namazunda - Nyasa Times 54 Comments

Objections and poor time managent took center stage in defamation case by former  Minister of Agricuture Dr George Chaponda against media giant Times Group and some of its editorial staff in connection to stories and comments on the suspicious maize deal between Malawi and Zambia as court has to adjourn the matter until corruption related case is concluded in High Court Zomba registry .

Chaponda: Filed defamation lawsuit against Times news Organisation

The trial resumed on Tuesday at High Court in Blantyre with Chaponda, a claimant himself standing in the dock as a witness.

The claimant’s counsel Emmanuel Mmeta made several objections on the question line of lead defence lawyer, Patrick Mpaka.

Mpaka cross examined Chaponda and asked him whether the matter is the same one being tried in Zomba. He said yes.

Times lawyer then quoted a case which ruled that if same matter is being tried in both criminal and civil cases; the criminal proceedings must start.

The judge Kenyatta Nyirenda had no choice but to agree with him and adjourn the matter until the Zomba criminal case for Chaponda is disposed off.

The hearing started with an application by the defence who had asked for an ammendament of the list of documents saying they came across some new documents which were to be added to the trial bundle, an application which justice Nyirenda granted.

However, the defence did not take time with the witness but rather led the complainant into confirmation that the witness statement is indeed by him.

The defence,] failed to agree as to why the claimant sued based on some paragraphs of the published articles reffered in the statement of claim other than the whole article.

“I only pointed to sentences and paragraphs that directly refer to me,” Chaponda kept on saying.

There was also an issue to do with some articles which were left out in the statement of claim, which were written after the case has been already filed.

Mmeta objected, saying some of the articles were published after the case had already been filed.

Chaponda is also seeking damages from Times reporter Alick Ponje and Daily Times assistant editor Madalitso Mussa.

He claims that the scribes “falsely and maliciously” published defamatory words of the minister and that the Sunday Times positioned Chaponda’s picture against a headline of ‘Epitome of Decadence’ an opinion piece, claiming it was calculated to portray the minister as a morally rotten person.

Chaponda is claiming damages for libel, exemplary and aggravated damages for libel and legal costs.

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54 replies on “Chaponda loses first round against Times in defamation case”

  1. Of course Chaponda has credetials that sound good as we mention but lacks integrity.Malawi cannot develop with people with several credentials but are devoid of integrity.That is why we have so many people degrees now but not show what the have done to the progress of the country,

  2. If convicted in the Zomba case then what was written by Times about Chaponda was not defamation but facts reporting.

  3. LET’S WAGE A BIG WAR

    AGAINST THESE DPP FIELD
    MARSHALS
    FIELD MARSHALS FOR STEALING NO ELECTRICITY
    THOSE GENERATORS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL
    EVERY MOVE THEY MAKE IS
    TO ENRICH THEMSELVES

    SEE WHAT WA JEFFREY IS
    DEMANDING?

    A WHOOPING MK900 BILLION !!

    WHAT IS HAPPENING AT
    MACRA? ?

    BUSHIRI RESCUE OUR LAND
    PLEASE !!

  4. Epitome of Decadence’ an opinion piece, claiming it was calculated to portray the minister as a morally rotten person”.

    Tsono iyeyo Chaponda akukana zimenezi? Moti akudziona kuti ndi munthu woyenera kulandira ulemu, wangwilo mmakhalidwe ake after kuootcha capital hill offices, kusunga ndarama kuchipinda mmalo mwaku bank komwe ndaramazo zikanalandira chiongola dzanja komanso government would have collected tax on interest earned. The very tax that government badly needs to improve its service delivery.

    If all that is not croockedness, theft and rotten morals, then what constitutes “moral Decadence” in lhomwe belt?!!!!

    1. Born in Chonde Village, Mulanje District, Chaponda studied at the University of Delhi from 1963 to 1968 where he received degrees in history and political science. He studied law at the University of Zambia from 1976 to 1979 and at Yale University from 1980 to 1984. He was admitted to the Bar in 1980.[2]
      Career
      He has held a number of senior positions in Zambia, including chief executive of a parastal organisation. From 1984 to 2002, he worked mostly as a senior lawyer for the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Somalia, Kenya, Thailand, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Ethiopia. From 2003-2004 he was Chairman of the University Council of the University of Malawi. In 2004 Chaponda entered Malawian politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Mulanje South West constituency. In June 2004, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of the newly elected President Bingu wa Mutharika. He served in that position until 2005, when he was appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. After the elections in May 2009, President Bingu wa Mutharika appointed him Minister of Education, but moved him to lead the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in 2010. The entire cabinet was dismissed on 19 August 2011.

      1. So what?!! Does that mean he did not play deals with Zambian maize? Does this background history mean he did not hide bags of money in his bedroom which is lack of morals and patriotism to a country which we all are striving to see itself lift its image of backwardness?!!!!

  5. Chaponda azichenjera APM anangomugwiritsa ntchito pakuba asalimbane ndi aTimes ,azikozekera kupita ku Chichiri Prison .

  7. Ineyo I don’t have law background but I think the logic behind starting criminal case first is that if the ruling is in favor of Chaponda then his case will be strong and also to deal with this civil case the civil court would want go find out where her what the paper is saying is true or not hence will be doing the job of criminal court.

    2. After Mutharika then we have George Chaponda as the most powerful and popular man in this country. Akuti nfweeee ndani?

  8. ‘Yale’ yake ya FAKE tsono. So the man couldn’t even realise the same issue is being tried in Zomba as a criminal case.
    Bwinobwino’tu! Ma graduate ena ndi zija azungu amatimvera chisoni kuti “maybe this is the best student Malawi can send”, “let’s help the poor country”.
    Mind you anthu enawa anapita ku USA years following ‘black civil rights movement’. There was a lot of undue sympathy for black people especially if one is from Africa.
    Ndiye ma Yale grad. ndi onse. Ena anakaphunzilako u tricksters chabe.
    Ndi awa ma zigogo MBAVA pano.
    SHAME!!!

    1. Iwe Chilungamo ndiwe nsete together with your uneducated master. George Chaponda is a million times educated and rich that your you and your entire associations. Munyera zenizeni akawina

      1. Chaponda is not educated because educated people don’t behave like this, kuba.

        Chaponda is not rich, that is stollen money.

      1. Of course Chaponda will probably win this case. Obviously because Judge Kenyatta’s truck record leaves a lot to desired!!!
        But what obviously is lacking in this Yale grad. is his professional judgement as a lawyer. He couldn’t even realise kuti the same case is criminal elsewhere. Ndiye YALE yo yili pati??? In any civilised country the dude belongs to jail.
        Of course his morals obviously belongs to the dustbin, no doubt about that.
        Look, in the history of Malawi, which cabinet minister’s office has ever been burned? My FOOT!!!
        Simply the dude ndi gogo MBAVA!!!
        SHAME!!!

    3. George Chaponda graduate from Yale university kuonetsa zisudzo. Ndipo uMbuli ndikulamula boma sizigwira,tinaonera pa JB. DPP WOYEEEEEEE Chaponda woooooyeeeee MSAKA wooooyyyeeee Tembenu wooooyyyyeeee.

  9. IT IS SAID THAT CHAPONDA IS A LAWYER FROM YALI mmmmmmh HE HAS COMPLETELY SHOWN THAT BUYING QUALIFICATION PAPERS DOESN’T HELP. MY FREE ADVICE TO HIM IS TO DROP THE WHOLE CASE OTHERWISE ACHITISIDWA MANYAZI. HE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT HE STOLE FROM THE POORER. TIMES GROUP HAS FULL EVIDENCE. IF HE IS DOUBTING LET HIM CONTINUE WITH THE CASE AND FACE THE MUSIC.

    MONI WOCHOKELA KUNO KU THEKELENI- THYOLO

    1. Chaponda will get compensation for sure.Achina Mada Pianoman Mussa ankachita kulemba ma status otukwana pa facebook.No single journalist in the world does what happens at Times. They took the issue personal because of money they were getting from MCP. shame!

    2. Dr.George Chaponda and Prof.Peter Mutharika are the only two veeeeery Educated lawyers i know in this country. Munaona bwanji 51+ mmene mbuli zinalilira nayo.Next is Maizegate case and kenako 2019..Wina aliranso kuti tamubera.

      1. They are not educated, akulephera. Madegree olandila chifukwa chofuna kukweza blacks in America and Africans.

        Ophunzira amalephera chonchi? Bola wosaphunzira Bakili Muluzi.

    3. Munthu opanda nzelu samasowadi eti? Timati YALE Osati YALI.Hehehehe. He studied law at the University of Zambia from 1976 to 1979 and at Yale University from 1980 to 1984. He was admitted to the Bar in 1980.

    1. Ukadzangomva wina akuti Chaponda waba chimanga or sanabe dziwa nzeru mulibe. Anzeru ali cheeeeeeteeeeee kudikira kukhothi.Emotions and social media comments will not yield anything.

    2. DPPPPP WOYEEEEE! Chaponda woooooyyyyeeeee! Simungatisunthe pambuyo pa Chaponda.Ofuna abwere ku mulanje ngati muli ndi mphanvu.

  11. How can this be the same case. This one Times is the defendant, the one in Zomba Chaponda is the defendant. This one is defamation which am sure does not carry a prison sentence, and the other one is theft, abuse of office or corruption things that carry the same sentence.

    1. Mungazimvetse inu ngati a Sikusinja? Umbuli ndi matenda asiyireni aeni ake aludzidziwa

      1. People in this country hate and comment on this issue without analyzing the facts. Chaponda will indeed succeed on this one.

    2. Inuonso a Sikusinja mukutichititsa manyazi pagulu apa! Iwe ngati mzanga sindimadziwa ndiwe uwuma mutu chonchi! Asaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa osadzandiimbiranso phoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wamva!! Sindimacheza ndi……………!! wamva Sikusinja?

    4. Chaponda will win his case and Times will also pay him big time.Tsoka kwa atolankhani osaukawa kaya azinya kwani ndalama?.

    1. Once the maizegate case is over Chaponda will be richer and these poor journalists will be poorer.

    2. Chaponda is also seeking damages from Times reporter Alick Ponje and Daily Times assistant editor Madalitso Mussa. A Mada mussa atenga kuti ndalama munthu amakanika kugula fair and lovely kuti athetse ziphuphu zosatha kunkhope kwake

    1. I am shocked by the intelligence of this lawyer cum politician. Oooooooooooooooooooooooo my foot! One can be turned into a fool indeed by the courts.

      1. I have read the article and i wonder why you are saying Chaponda has lost.Learn to report facts.Ndizokhazokha Times Group ikusumulidwazi.The malawian industry is full of Poor and unprofessional journalists.

      2. Born in Chonde Village, Mulanje District,George Chaponda studied at the University of Delhi from 1963 to 1968 where he received degrees in history and political science. He studied law at the University of Zambia from 1976 to 1979 and at Yale University from 1980 to 1984. He was admitted to the Bar in 1980. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNING TO GLORY.If he were to stand as president i would vote for him.ASAFUNA ASIYE HEHEHEHEHE!

    2. The judge Kenyatta Nyirenda has adjourned the matter until the Zomba criminal case for Chaponda is disposed off.This does not mean Times has no case to answer.Understand simple English

      1. Zoti anthu aku Times ndi adyera ndipo saatha ntchito olo innocent Chitosi amadziwa

    3. Chaponda claiming damages for libel, exemplary and aggravated damages for libel and legal costs is his constitutional right. If Times were wrong which likely because of their conduct,they should pay! You can’t just do anything without being responsible.

    5. The only crime Chaponda committed is being close to Mutharika and it was rumored to have been groomed to succeed President Peter Mutharika, who could leave office as early as 2019 after the expected tripartite elections.

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