UPP leader Saviour Chishimba says Zambia Revenue Authority’s decision to sue him over alleged malicious falsehoods and the injunction obtained is intended to muffle freedom of expression.

ZRA sued the United Progressive Party in the Lusaka High Court claiming K100 billion for malicious falsehoods relating to a tender that ZRA is alleged to have been dubiously awarded to a Chinese company.

Chishimba has, however, through lawyer Lilian Mushota, described the lawsuit as as an attempt to hide corrupt activities and intimidate citizens.

“The injunction obtained by the plaintiff is intended to muffle freedom especially of an opposition party standpoint on concerns of public interest regarding impropriety, accountability, abuse of public resources,” read Saviour’s defense.

The UPP leader submitted in a defense that his comment was largely true as conceded by ZRA commissioner general on March 31.

He further submitted that his statements on corruption activities were in support of President Edgar Lungu’s lamentations on massive corruption involving public officials.

Last month, judge Annesie Banda-Bobo granted ZRA an injunction restraining Chishimba or his agents from further publishing or broadcasting falsehoods.