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.

Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya : Court rules he was injured by MBC and be compesated

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.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
23 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
KUKHALA
KUKHALA
6 years ago

WAITING TO MBC MANAGEMENTS ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.

Wanzeru
Wanzeru
6 years ago

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

chatonda Mvula
chatonda Mvula
6 years ago

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

Banda
Banda
6 years ago

These people are arrogant and arrogant,shame!! Malawi Mabodza Cooperation MBC

Tafwa Chipalamandule
Tafwa Chipalamandule
6 years ago

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… Read more »

Chisoni
Chisoni
6 years ago

Ndibwino kumaulusa nkhani zeni zeni atolankhani muzifufuza. Taonani mwapereketsa NDALAMA yosalakwa.

Malawian Mwanavava
Malawian Mwanavava
6 years ago

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.

Zander mutiuze
6 years ago

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… Read more »

Gome
Gome
6 years ago
Reply to  Zander mutiuze

Remember he hired a Lawyer so who pays the bill?

ESG
ESG
6 years ago

SO SAD

zambac
zambac
6 years ago

when are they going to apologise on MBC?

Read previous post:
Prince Harry in Malawi elephant safari jolly: At Mvuu Camp

Britain’s  Prince Harry, who is fifth in line for the throne, is staying at Mvuu camp in the Liwonde National...

Close