How Nkaigwa intends to rubbish Moyo’s legal suit
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Tati East MP, Samson Guma Moyo
Gaborone North Member of Parliament, Haskins Nkaigwa will vehemently deny the defamation charges laid against him by Tati East MP, Samson Guma Moyo when he appears to answer for the charges.
Nkaigwa is accused of publishing defamatory remarks about Moyo in a Facebook post.
In his replying affidavit, Nkaigwa questions and “rejects” the assertion made by Moyo that he has suffered damages in the sum of 1.5 million or any amount for that matter.
“Alternatively, Nkaigwa will plead that even if the words complained of can be attributed to him, such words are not defamatory against Moyo and were not intended to defame Moyo and injure his reputation,” Nkaigwa’s legal representative hinted in court papers seen by the WeekendPost this week.
The Umbrella for Democratic Party (UDC) legislator further contests that the words complained of, if they are attributed to him, were made with the intention to humiliate, degrade, insult, and to impair the dignity and self-esteem of the Tati East legislator.
According to Moyo in his earlier filing notice: “on about 22nd April 2016, Nkaigwa published a Facebook post about the plaintiff (Moyo) in the ‘All Parties Conference’ Facebook group or page. A copy of the computer screen shot which was attached to the papers stated that;
“Guma can only cheat those who don’t know him. Jang dijo betsho, le madi le a tsee le dino le dinwe. Madi a bogodu a tshwanetse go jewa akere ga a huhulelwa. Kalanga.s (sic) and voters of Francistown South are not cheap as Guma thinks. You can ride them but never ever dream that they will vote BDP. It pains to see how BDP continue (sic) to undermine the integrity of our brothers and sisters. Vote UDC. The devil and its BDP agents will be humbled tomorrow. Be blessed God has given us this one. Money is the root cause of all evil and God has exposed it and whatever is exposed is rendered powerless.”
It is understood that an English translation (in terms of Order 20 rule 4 (4), High Court Rules) of the Setswana words in the post quoted states that; “eat the food fellow citizens; and the money take it; and the beverages, drink them. Money acquired through theft must be spent because it was not worked for.”
The BDP MP’s claims are as follows: “payment of damages for defamation in the sum of 1.5 million pula ; interest thereon at the rate of 10% per annum calculated from the date of judgement to the date of full and final payment; and costs of suits.”
Alternative claims he added include payment of damages for injuria in the sum of P500 000.00; interest thereon at the rate of 10% per annum calculated from the date of judgement to the date of full and final payment; and costs of suits.
In his filing notice, the politician cum business tycoon had claimed locus standi in judicio for the reason that: “The defamatory and insulting words, which are subject of this action, were written and published in reference to me. I was therefore adversely affected by the defendant’s (Nkaigwa) defamatory and insulting statements and therefore have the requisite legal standing to sue for damages.”
However, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) law maker argues that the Tati East MP does not have a good name/reputation as he is currently a subject of investigation by Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) on allegations of financial impropriety.
In addition, the court papers assert that: “the plaintiff (Moyo) presently is also investigated by the Botswana Unified Revenues Services (BURS) wherein he is alleged to have failed to discharge his responsibility of paying taxes and thereby contravening the country’s laws.”
“The plaintiff (Moyo) therefore has no good name as he does not respect the laws of the country especially for a person of his stature as a leader,” the papers further hinted.
According to the former BDP chairman the words quoted in the Facebook post, were intended to impute and were understood by its readers to mean or impute that he is dishonest; a corrupt politician, a corrupt Member of Parliament/leader/public figure; is a thief who steals public funds for use in political campaigns.
The tenderpreneur also pointed out that they were also intended to implicate that he uses proceeds of crime to fund political campaigns; is a criminal involved in financial crime; and is guilty of disreputable conduct.
Apart from the defamatory meaning of the quoted words, he added that they carry an additional sting to the effect that the ruling party MP is not a law abiding citizen; without moral fibre; and is an agent of the devil.
On the alternative claim he pointed out that “the publication of the said Facebook post was made with the intention to humiliate, degrade, insult and to impair my dignity and self-esteem.”
As a result of the defamation, Moyo highlighted he had been damaged in his reputation and has suffered damages in the sum of P1, 500, 000.00. The matter is expected to be fully heard at the High Court in the span of time.
Nkaigwa is represented by esteemed J.J Matomela attorneys while Moyo is represented by revered Ramalepa attorneys.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.