MBC to pay Speaker K3.3mil compensation over fake news: Court orders retraction, apology
Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya has succeeded in his legal suit against public funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for defamation and the High Court has orders that Msowoya be compensated K3.5 million.
Msowoya sued MBC over a report it carried on April 15, 2016 on allegations connecting the Speaker to a stolen laptop at the Ministry of Finance.
MBC reported that Msowoya used his Personal Assistant Patrick Kayira to steal the laptop from the said ministry with the aim of spying on the government.
Lawyer for Msowoya, Innocentia Ottober said the report aired by MBC on radio and television as well as published on the broadcaster’s website “ ordinarily meant and were understood to mean that Msowoya is a crook, untrustworthy, dishonest, corrupt, a thief, a pervert and a criminal.”
He said the report by MBC was “unjustified attack” on Msowoya, who is also vice president of Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
In consent judgement dated June 23 2017, the High Courr has endorsed that MBC should retract the fake news and air an apology during five successive news bulletins on both radio and television in Chichewa and English.
Court says MBC should pay K2.5 million as compensation and K1 million for costs.
“The parties have agreed terms of compromise and considering to an order being drawn in such terms as hereinafter provides; The defendant do pay the sum of K1 million as party and party costs by June 21 2017. That upon default the plaintiff be at liberty to execute against the defendant,” reads the ruling.
MBC lawyer Chancy Gondwe who had denied that the words in the storyt were meant to injure the Speaker confirmed the court ruling , saying the tax-funded broadcasterhas greed to pay.
WAITING TO MBC MANAGEMENTS ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.
Surely, someone must be held to account coz that’s as good as fraud. The board and management are responsible. The tax I pay through the nose should not be used to settle damages in such cases avoidable cases when there are no drugs in hospitals, roads are bad, teachers are getting their salaries late etc
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO MUST BE FIRED STARTING WITH AUBREY SUMBULETA, VINCENT KHONYONGWA, PHILLIP BUSINESS, ANGEL CHIMA, COSMAS TCHALE JUST TO MENTION A FEW BECAUSE THEY ARE PROPAGANDA TOOLS FOR DPP AND APM. SUMBULETA is the biggest failure at MBC and is using his position to have sex with women in exchange with favors such as foreign trips and allowances. Shame and you will catch the virus if you have not caught it already,. Take care
These people are arrogant and arrogant,shame!! Malawi Mabodza Cooperation MBC
Thats it! Thats justice prevailing like waters running down the streams! Congrats Msowoya and his tough lawyers! Ndale za chimizimizi za propaganda ngati nyatsi za Makiyolobasi, ndale zonunkha pipipiiii! Tshupiti The entire MBC and its reporters! You just waste tax payers money and denting the good leadership of Prof Peter Wa Muthalika! Akuchokochani tu Peter! Where is wide mouthed Kaliyati? Where is the so called Bulldozer Chaponda? Where is thye notorious Muli? And where is the childish Bright Malopa? The list can go on and on and on. So the MBC, just do your job proper otherwise you may meet with a chop!
Ndibwino kumaulusa nkhani zeni zeni atolankhani muzifufuza. Taonani mwapereketsa NDALAMA yosalakwa.
How about those who investigated and wrote the story? Let them be fired for carrying their duties unprofessionally and have their terminal benefits pay for their unprofessionalism, otherwise don’t use my tax to pay this case.
Its easy to compasate politicians for wrong doing. There is also money for this. But not when they kill someone who was doing his work Nyaunji and Young Chasowa? What is wrong with Malawi? With these two cases are nation interest. People want who murdered these people and WHY? They can investigate simple cases especially those are not connected with government But not theirs . Is Malawi democratic nation or are still in dictatorship? The teachers, nurses, Police, civil workers etc are not paid for many months or theirs salaries are not raised. But others are getting millions for Words said about them. Do u think its normal? I like Msowoya But I agree that is right for him to demand such huge sum of money. An appology is What he need.
Remember he hired a Lawyer so who pays the bill?
SO SAD
when are they going to apologise on MBC?
No comment
Lack of professionals at funded broadcaster MBC but also punish those carries the story if they had sent by DDP look now kuti mphwaaaaa 2019 MCP Boma.
nation newspaper(Nation publications ltd)is next,they have a pending court case which they have been running away from it for some time now,thry dont have enough evidence yet they sent people to jail.Mpaka Lero anthu akusainisabe bail,mukazangoluza muzaona zakuda,you will pay in millions.
More law suits against MBC are on their way.Look at the Editor-in-Chief’s face.Are you really a professional news editor? Do you know extent of damage you are causing to your fellow Malawians reputation,using their own taxpayers money?
Ulandire Allah! !
the money is small
please let these dogs
pay more coz they practise ignorant politics !!
Shaaaaa…My tax being misused by the so call MBC.
See now where your hell bound propaganda has landed you in. People of good morals have time and again advised you to desist from the same, but with rotten brains you are adamant to change. MBC is a disgrace in the field of media. Now, where are you going to get the money from to pay for this case which would have been avoided? Our own taxes? Stop this foolishness and save our taxes because this will not be the last payment you will make as you are a body with people without reasoning. Shame on you MBC. Apologize now to show us how disgraceful you are Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Propaganda with lack of professional consideration. NDE ndi izo. Ngati simusintha mupanga revise budget yanu kuti muikemo vote yama compensations.kkkkk
Serves you right MBC. Regrettably its tax payer’s money, my money down the drain due to overzealous stupid MBC in it’s quest to accommodate APM and his DPP.
Congratulations incoming Vice State President Msowoya
This is a wake up call to MBC. Next time you will pay even more. Unfortunately you will not feel the pains of the compensation since the tax payers who fund your operations including salaries will fund you as well. We are living in a vicious circle really. So sad
Does it pain to pay such amount?
On the contrary, they don’t feel it and that’s why they continue their character assassination propaganda to their critics.
Let it be paid by those carrying the stories…….ppl like B should be held responsible
MBC sizamva.