Chaponda sues Malawi News for ‘defamatory headline’
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda is suing Times Group for what he said was the malicious manner of how one of its titles, Malawi News a weekly paper reported his failure to appear before the Parliamentary inquiries into the controversial maize procurement from Zambia.
Chaponda through his lawyers M and M Global, is suing for defamation allegations over the story which appeared in the Malawi News of January 28 to 3 Februay, 2017 because its headline ‘The Defiant Chaponda’.
According to the writ of summons which Nyasa Times has seen, the headline in question was aimed at harming the image of Chaponda.
Lawyer Madalitso Mmeta representing Chaponda said the headline is “defamatory” which he argues in simple terms means “to offer resistance so something or challenge something.”
Mmeta said Malawi News“ intended to portray an appalling image” of Chaponda at face value to the general public without the person or the reader getting into further details of the article official and individual of right thinking people.”
In the story, it is reported that the Chaponda failed to attend the maize inquiry because he received inviation late, but the copy editor fumed to what his reporter was reporting.
Chaponda claimed he said he could not attend the inquiry because he saw the communication late.
The Minister who is also Leader of Government in Parliament maintains that he was not directly involved in the purchase of maize from Zambia.
He said his involvement was minimal as the main buyer of the maize was the Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and not his ministry.
In the history of Malawi politics, its only DPP which bounced back to power after being out of government for 2 years and managed to throw the ruling (sic.)PP to a third position. The opposition instead of banging its heads on how to stratigise on the 2019 elections are busy attacking and insulting ruling party individuals. This weak opposition is now dry of winning formula. They are doing nothing which can give their supporters hope that they will carry the day in 2019. Together they look vocal as if they can shake something to the bottom. But come 2019 the… Read more »
Defiant means intransigence was your trip to Germany in the face of a court injunction not defiance?
Dr. Chaponda, is the money you have amassed through Cashgate not enough? Yes, you were defiant. You went to Germany after being suspended; you did not report to Parliamentary Committee after being summoned, giving a lame excuse you received the summon late. You lying crook. Go ahead suing Times Group. Your Case will be heard in Mzuzu before Justice Chìrwa. It will be fun watching the proceedings.
Mnkuluyu makani ndi liuma ngati mnzake
MBENDERA NDITHU
O bwana vavuta apo!! I thought he jumps court orders? Now he wants the same courts to help him? What HYPOCRISY? So him thinks that he is bigger than Malawi? Yalakwa basi!! Chitani timanyazi o bwana!!!
i thought this ugly thief was above the courts???? just recently he defied a court order and traveled to germany in a ministerial capacity and now he says he needs the same courts??????? amakhothi mufinyeni pumbwa ameneyi adzawona ngati dziko ndilophweka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not use the prerogative of the President. Now u want the court
The battle has just begun we shall see as ZCF atiyanika kuti time
Gwa atikazinge bwino
In my understanding chaponda is not to blame. He has done nothing wrong. Remember he is a good boy to the bwana and he performs his duties exactly according to the instructions from above . here , the instructor is to blame and need to be taken head on…..,…..,.
Thats the way to go Bwana Chaponda. You have massive support from us bonafide Malawians but times does not know this. Ka times nkachani kodi?
We can as well consider times newspaper (of idiots) as the 53rd political party in Malawi. Deal with them. Achepaaaaaa!