Kunda threatens to sue QFM

Kunda threatens to sue QFM
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 29 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT

VICE-President George Kunda's law firm has threatened to sue Lusaka's Radio QFM over the live broadcast of Patriotic Front (PF) Michael Sata's letter in which the latter claimed that the Vice-President irregularly received K3.5 billion legal costs from government.

And QFM director Moses Nyama yesterday confirmed receipt of the letter from George Kunda and Company. In a letter dated January 25, 2010, accessed by The Post, George Kunda and Company demanded that QFM pay reasonable sum as damages.

“Re: Claim for damages for malicious libel - George Kunda and Company, and Mrs Irene M. Kunda. It has been brought to our attention that on 18th January, 2010 your radio station carried an interview with the Patriotic Front president Mr Michael C. Sata where among other things, he alleged that George Kunda and Company had received a sum of K3.5 billion as costs from the government, in the case of DBZ Vs. Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited when the court had ordered that each party should bear its own costs, and that this is tantamount to theft and/or plunder of public funds,” George Kunda and Company stated.

The firm stated that QFM repeated Sata's interview.

“These allegations are completely untrue and constitute a grave libel upon the firm and its proprietor Mrs Irene M. Kunda. The publication has lowered the professional standing of the firm and its proprietors,” the firm stated.

“We therefore demand that: - (1) You render a suitable withdrawal and apology in terms to be approved by us in respect of these unfounded allegations which were broadcast on your radio station, (2) You give us your assurance and undertaking in writing that you will not repeat the broadcasting or publication of these or similar allegations concerning the firm, and its proprietors. (3) You indemnity the firm and its proprietors in respect of legal costs which they will have incurred in this matter. (4) You pay a proper and reasonable sum as damages to the firm and its proprietors for the injury to their reputation and the embarrassment and distress caused to them.

The amount payable will be communicated to you in due course.”

George Kunda and Company stated that QFM acted recklessly by allowing Sata to make the libelous remarks with impunity.

“We shall issue a Writ of Summons if we do not receive a satisfactory reply within the next seven days,” stated George Kunda and Company.

When contacted, Nyama confirmed that QFM had received the letter and would respond to it.

“We received it and we are going to respond to it. We will respond maybe today yesterday,” said Nyama.