Maravi

Sata, Lubinda maintain suits against public media

Sata, Lubinda maintain suits against public media
By Bright Mukwasa
Tue 03 Jan. 2012, 13:57 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata will continue with his lawsuits against the public media for defaming him prior to the September 20 elections.

Information, broadcasting and tourism minister Given Lubinda said President Sata would go ahead with his decision to sue the state-owned media he had cases with while he was in opposition.

"The President had the intentions of withdrawing, but later on instructed his lawyers to reinstate the matter and as far as I know, the President is awaiting a response from the lawyers of the Zambia Daily Mail and ZNBC," Lubinda said in interview.

Asked if he was considering withdrawing his lawsuits against the Zambia Daily Mail after his earlier appeal to those with litigations against the state-owned media to withdraw them, Lubinda said:

"As you might be aware, I am party to two of those issues. No, I'm not considering withdrawing because there's a big distinction between Given Lubinda - the one who was alleged to have been getting money from Afghanistan - and me the minister. The fact that I am minister, it does not mean my name has been cleared. As far as some people are concerned out there, those stories that were published by ZNBC and Zambia Daily Mail are still hanging and I would like the authors of those stories to prove their stories. If not, let them give me an opportunity to plead my innocence so that I'm cleared."

In July, President Sata, then opposition leader and Lubinda now information minister, sued the Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail claiming general and punitive damages for libel over articles published in the two state-owned but government-controlled newspapers.

President Sata and Lubinda, who sued the newspapers separately, also wanted an injunction to restrain the two newspapers from continued publication of the said articles and related stories pending the court's determination.

According to statements of claims filed in the Lusaka High Court, the duo is claiming damages relating to articles published in the Times of Zambia between July 6 and 7, 2011 titled "PF gets Afghanistan, Taiwanese cash for Lusaka land" and "Sata condemned over $45 million Taiwan funding".

The PF leader and his Kabwata member of parliament were also claiming damages over the articles that were published in the same period in the Zambia Daily Mail which were titled "Sata to ship youths to Afghanistan" and "PF dictatorial - FODEP" which articles concerned the duo.

Labels: COURTS, GIVEN LUBINDA, MEDIA, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 6:05 PM