Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Eddie Mwitwa has sued Lusaka lawyer Tutwa Ngulube in the Lusaka High Court, claiming damages for defamation of character.
This was after Mr Ngulube accused Mr Mwitwa of being used by UPND to fight political battles adding that he has been promised to stand as an MP under the UPND in Lusaka Central in 2021.
Mr. Mwitwa is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages for libel and slander.
He is further seeking damages for inconvenience, mental stress and anguish, as well as, interest on any sums awarded from the date of writ to the date of full settlement, costs and any other relief the court might deem fit.
Mr. Ngulube, who is also Kabwe Central PF member of parliament, said in an audio recording on ZNBC main news, that he was supporting other lawyers who wanted to impeach Mr. Mwitwa for being used to fight political battles on behalf of UPND.
“I would like to support the calls of State Counsel Sakwiba Sikota and other learned State Counsel who have come out in the open and said they would like us to impeach the LAZ president Mr Eddie Mwitwa for dragging the name of the association into serious disrepute and also for being used to fight political battles on behalf of a named opposition political party, the UPND,” said Mr. Ngulube.
“It is very clear that Mr Mwitwa, whose term of office is coming to an end would like to leave a trail of destruction on behalf of the Law Association of Zambia…”
But in a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Thursday, Mr. Mwitwa stated that Ngulube’s words had been circulating on social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp and were reiterated and published on internet websites and newspapers such as the ‘Lusaka Times’ in an Article titled ‘Tutwa Leads Call for Impeachment of Current LAZ executive’ dated August 15, 2019, as well as, Zambian Observer and Zambia Reports.
He stated that in their natural meaning, the words uttered by Mr. Ngulube meant that he was an unethical and an unprofessional lawyer.
Mr. Mwitwa further stated that in an article published in the Daily Nation newspaper on August 17 this year, titled ‘643 lawyers nod Mwitwa impeachment’ Mr. Ngulube said ‘he had evidence that he (Mwitwa) was paid by the UPND to fight the Constitution Amendment Bill’.
He added that similar words were published in the News Digers newspaper dated August 20, where Mr. Ngulube said ‘he was ready to face the LAZ president in court because he was on firm ground that he was paid to fight the Constitution Amendment Bill’.
Mr. Mwitwa stated that Mr. Ngulube refused to apologise for the alleged defamatory words when he requested him to do so and instead dared him to institute court actions if he was man enough.
“By way of a letter, Mr. Mwitwa through his advocates, requested Mr. Ngulube to publicly apologise to him for the said defamatory words but Mr. Ngulube failed, neglected or refused to apologise but instead publicly dared Mr. Mwitwa to institute the present action against him stating that Mwitwa could only commence proceedings against him ‘if he was man enough’,” read the statement of claim.
He lamented that as a result, he had been severely injured in his profession, law practice and social standing, character, credibility and reputation and had suffered considerable distress and embarrassment, inconvenience and contempt from the general public and from members of LAZ.
Mwitwa is now claiming damages for slander and libel, among other claims.
Elo lwanya nomba. Lawyer vs lawyer. Uko. Bola yawama.
This is quite straight forward, that ka pig, Ngulube, has eaten more than he chew! Eddie Mwitwa is pone of the finest, credible and most intelligent lawyers in Zambia and even the pig Ngulube knows that.
For sure that pig Ngulube cant fight Eddie the way he was fighting the Councillors and the Mayor of Kabwe – this is different ball game that will leave the pig with faeces of financial ruin on his face.
LAZ and many other progressive lawyers are standing with Mwitwa on this one and we want that pig taught a lesson it will never forget. Sakwiba Sikota has already distanced himself from the pig so you wonder what next!
dull guy why in Lusaka High Court, LUSAKA? are you styupid?
You should have taken it to Ndola High Court or Mansa High Court.
Yah, sue the ignorant pig.
Ngulube kunya bebele nomba! This mentality of “umusungu mwine Chipata antemwe” ilaletelela. When found guilty that pig ???? must be fired from parliament.
LAZ President’s (Mwitwa) true political skin is emerging out of his shredding camouflage sheep skin. It is a case of UPND vs PF. Never mind the fate of Mwitwa’s Legal Firm to attract potential clients in quest for legal counsel.
The principal of the university should hang from a gallows a 100 feet high.Peter Carlos Hinds.
The Main Problem is SSpeaker Matibini who has caused this Constitutional Crisis in Zambia. Speaker Matibini has unilaterally appointed a biased Ad hoc Select Committee to manipulate the processing of Bill No.10. What Speaker Matibini should have done is to f Appoint an Independent Parliament Legal Committee (PLC) in Parliament whose duty is to vet all New Bills b4 they are tabled on the Floor in Parliament. PLC’ s main mandate is to vet New Bills and ensure that they compliant with the Zambian Constitution. Where a Bill is given an adverse Report by PLC it must be Amended to ensure that it’s consistent with the Zambian Constitution. Prominent Lawyers should be appointed to this Permanent and Independent PLC. Speaker Matibini should not interfere with the work of PLC. In most Countries…
Ngulube Piggy’s stupidity is just your standard spineless Zambian PF politician trying to find rationality in their illogical policies of kleptomania and gerrymandering the constitution to perpetuate their disastrous stay in power. With Mwitwa, kunya bebele iwe Mr Piggy, atase.
HH worshippers….Tutwa can never b scared of Tonga I,diots
LAZ leadership lost it’s credibility when they joined the Presidential petition for the privatisation thief HH of the UPND who has hidden the privatisation loot in the paradise papers because of his greedy and bitterness and lost the case… Instead of joining into cases against Vedenta KCM they’re petitioning Parliament hence it’s clear that the leadership of LAZ is in the pocket of of the Supreme leader HH and majority of the Zambians not into group think mentality are able to see clearly the mischief by LAZ
At least HH invested his privertisation money wisely , your lungu drank all of his after selling cold storage board of Zambia to foreigners to strip away the marchinary……HH employees hundreds of Zambians from that if it is privertisation money while your lungu even went on to defraud a widow after drinking his…..
Say what you ?
This is a Good move by Mr Eddie Mwitwa. This is not a Personal issue but it is about Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, Good Governance and Human Rights. The only problem is will a State Captured Concourt hear the Petition and arrive at a fair Judgement? It will be surprising to see Concourt Ruling against the State given their past Record. They will be under pressure from ECL and PF to dismiss the Petition. Time will tell.
Lock up ka Tutwa in the pigsty
LAZ is better off providing advice than them suing their own Government because later they may be required to advise Government on certain issues. If you support a motion then you are with them and not against. I shall leave it here for now. The case is in courts of law.