Sata to take legal action against Teta

Sata to take legal action against Teta
Written by George Chellah
Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:23:15 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba for alleging that one of the suspects in the Ministry of Health K10 billion scam Henry Kapoko funded his election campaigns.

According to a letter dated May 27, 2009 to his lawyer Bonaventure Mutale SC of Ellis and Company, Sata instructed his lawyers to take legal action of libel and defamation against Tetamashimba, who is also local government minister.

"Please find enclosed herewith a wild statement by Tetamashimba spokesperson for the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). Mr. Henry Kapoko is not my nephew and there is no relationship whatsoever with me," read Sata's letter in part. "I personally or the party did not receive any money from Henry Kapoko. Henry Kapoko has never given any T/shirts or chitenge materials to me personally or to the party in general.

"Henry Kapoko has never funded the Patriotic Front campaigns at any time since the party was formed. Tetamashimba must reveal the names of civil servants who are stealing money from government to fund the Patriotic Front. We are instructing you to take legal action of libel and defamation against Tetamashimba."

And in a letter to Tetamashimba dated May 27, 2009, Sata's lawyers Ellis and Company demanded for a retraction and apology over his statements.

"We have been retained by Mr Sata and the Patriotic Front in connection with the above article which has been published on the Internet by Zambia Watchdog. We attach hereto a copy of the said article. We advise that our instructions are that all the allegations in the article are false and malicious. Mr Sata is not related to Mr Henry Kapoko," read the letter in part.

"The Patriotic Front has not had any dealings with Mr Kapoko. The Patriotic Front has also not received any monetary or material support from Mr Kapoko. Our clients have in the circumstances instructed us to demand a retraction of this story and for your unequivocal apology.

"We must have your response in the course of the next seven days, failure to which we have instructions to commence action for libel without further notice."