CHAWAMA PF member of parliament Tasila Lungu has dragged Crown Television and three others to court for alleging that she was being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission over the purchase of a bank and its assets.
Lungu has cited Black Swan Media Limited, trading as Crown TV Zambia; Jeff Mbewe and Mwamba Chikonka trading as The Candidate; Davies Shachinda trading as Southern Classic Media Limited; and Mwewa Chitambala trading as Simon Mwewa Lane TV as respondents.
According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Monday, Lungu stated that ACC held a media briefing on September 15 where they stated that: “A former ward councillor of Lusaka is being investigated for the suspicious purchase of a named bank together with all of the bank’s assets worth K 300 million…”.
She noted that ACC did not mention any names in the said briefing nor did it indicate that it was investigating her for any crimes, let alone the suspicious purchase of a Bank with all the bank’s assets worth K300 million.
Lungu stated that on the same day, Crown TV, with full knowledge that the information was false and/or unverified published or cause to be published on its Facebook page, which has a huge following, that: “Tasila Lungu being investigated for suspicious purchase of a named bank together with all the assets worth K300 million. ACC also investigating several high profile cases at DMMU, DBZ, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance. Details in the main news at 19:30hrs.” (sic)
She stated that The Candidate also on the same day, with full knowledge that the information was false and unverified, published on its Facebook page that she was being investigated by the ACC.
Lungu also stated that Southern Classic Media Limited published a video containing a news item that repeated the defamatory news item that was televised by Crown TV.
She stated that Chitambala, who has a following of over 300,000 people posted that: “The former president’s daughter Tasila Lungu is being investigated for suspicious purchase of a named bank together with all the assets worth k300 million. Everyone from Eagle ONE to the average councillor was stealing in a BIG way during the Patriotic Front’s iron rule…Cont’d.” (sic)
Lungu added that despite her lawyers writing to Crown TV, they did not retract their statement but instead reiterated the sentiments from the Facebook post in their news that was aired or televised in their 19:30 hours news bulletin.
She stated that in their ordinary meaning the statements by the defendants meant and were understood to mean that she is a corrupt individual who illicitly purchased a bank and its assets.
Lungu added that the said words were published out of malevolence or spite towards her and were designed to damage her reputation.
She noted that in the consequence of her reputation being seriously damaged, she has suffered distress, embarrassment and has been brought into hatred, public scandal, ridicule, odium and contempt.
Lungu stated that despite Crown TV in their 19:30 hours news bulletin on September 16 acknowledging that their post regarding her was not true, they have not apologised for the issuance of the false defamatory words.
She further stated that the third and fourth respondents after being served with a demand letter retracted and apologised as well as pulled down the posts on their Facebook pages.
Lungu is now claiming damages for libel against all the defendants and exemplary damages against the first and second defendants.
She also wants a retraction and apology by the first and second respondents for the posts attributable to them using the same media platforms used to smear her reputation, costs and any other relief the court may deem fit.
