BELARUSIAN businessman Alexander Zingman’s lawyers have written to News Diggers Media Limited requesting it to confirm where or whom it obtained photographs of their client.
According to a letter of demand addressed to News Diggers editor-in-chief Joseph Mwenda and reporter Sipilisiwe Ncube, Zingman, through his lawyers from Daniel L. Delnero and Squire Patton Boggs law firm based in the UK, is demanding that News Diggers should within two working days of receiving the letter, remove the Article, including the e-Paper version from the website and provide them with evidence of the same.
News Diggers has further been asked to disclose where or whom it obtained the photographs of Zingman and further to provide an apology to be published on the website.
Zingman’s lawyers stated that News Diggers had contravened their client’s right to privacy by publishing the photographs of him without his permission.
“You cannot continue to publish untrue and defamatory articles about our client (especially of this magnitude) without any consequence. This is a wholly unprofessional way for you to conduct business. You must within two working days of your receipt of the email attaching this letter; remove the Article (including the e-Paper version) from your website and provide us with evidence of the same,” read the letter of claim.
“Thereafter, within seven days of the date of this letter, you are required to; (a) confirm whether you are aware of the Article being reposted/republished by any third parties, and provide us with any details you have for those third parties; (b) confirm from where or whom you obtained the photographs of our client; (c) provide the text of an apology to be published on your website, for agreement by our client; (d) cease and desist from publishing any further untruthful and defamatory comments (whether oral or written) about Mr Zingman.”
They stated that should News Diggers fail to comply with the said requirements, Zingman reserved the right to issue proceedings against the media house for an order for the removal of the Article; an appropriate sum in damages to acknowledge the loss and damage caused to Zingman’s reputation, and in respect of any financial loss he may suffer; and an appropriate sum in damages to compensate him for the misuse of his private information and for any breach of copyright.
On May 28, 2020, News Diggers published an investigation linking President Edgar Lungu to Zingman who, according to the Business News Line publication of March 25, 2020, is associated with questionable deals between Russian dealers and African countries.
It also published photographs where President Lungu is seen with Defence Permanent Secretary Sturdy Mwale, Zambia Air Force Commander Lt Gen David Muma and Defence attaché at the Zambian Embassy in Moscow, Lt Gen Robert Kampeshi, posing with the said businessman.
On another photograph, the Belarusian businessman is seen holding the shoulders of Gen Muma and PS Mwale while Lusaka businessman Valden Findlay and Lt Gen Kampeshi are looking into the camera.
20 Responses
Nonsense
Zingman should know better that ECL is a President of Zambia and was elected by the people of Zambia to protect their interest! Even if he is his friend, that is secondary. The main point is that Zambians monitor their president and are entitled to know who are his friends. It is their right! He will only revert back to his previous position once he leaves State House! So, if you don’t want to know that, it’s your own problem! Try and hang yourself!
why such demands from zigman’s lawyers? are they ashamed that he APPEARED in PHOTO with our resident? one would think that this was good Publicity for Zigman: aPPearing in Photo with mwine chalo! kateka! but why the fuss?
If Alexander Zingman didnt have anything to hide he would haver been to stressed! HE APPEARED IN MULTUPAL PHOTOS WITH OUR PRESEDENT! Rediclous
ITS NOT OK that te President of Zambia has sketchy people that are helping him in the descision making process ! You cannot prened thier relationship is friendly. ZINGMAN IS THE ONE THAT MANAGE EVERYTHINGF AND ENJOYS OUR HARD EARNED MONEY
Zingman sit down please! when your pictures are in public domain insoni ebuntu naiwe
Madness, tell them that Dr Lungu is not a private Rusian property but a Zambian public property who is sponsorship by the Zambia taxpayers and they have right to Know what he is doing.he is accountable to the Zambians and not to criminal lawyers in the United Kingdom,to hell with the demand letters and let the kindly avail that same their client so that we tell him how to behave when with a Zambian property
We need to restore dignity and honor to the office of the president. That is a sacred office
Tell them to stop posing with that man, because he is not Russian but Zambian finito
How this bully that breaks US embargo on Russia wants us to believe anything, so damn shady
Tell Zingman Zambians are looking for their monies back !!
If he is a big tree we are a small Axe Sharp and ready to Cut him down
This is very good Investigative journalism from News Diggers, Zingman is a mafia dont be threatened by him
Job well done!!!! Zingman can wish until tomorrow but he is done
Who even cares who what, all nonsense ! Zingman has guilty written all over himself
God should punish criminals like him!
Diggers continue opening our eyes…. Thanks for unearthing this data to the public domain
Hope that following the spectacular investigative pieces News Diggers are giving, more organizations will weak up about Zambia and not allow the president to be invlved with Shafy people like this Alexander Zingman
The Party in government has a lot of issues in this county. Do you think this party can survive if there is change of government
Nothing is hidden under earth