Nawakwi loses bid in HH defamation case

THE LUSAKA High has dismissed an application by Forum for Democracy (FDD) leader, Edith Nawakwi in which she wanted Mr Hakainde Hichilema to be ordered to provide further and better particulars to the court.

This is in a matter in which Mr Hichilema, the United Party for National Development (UPND) president has sued Ms Nawakwi seeking damages of US$3, 000, 000 for defamation of character.

But Ms Nawakwi contended that the claim against her by Mr Hichilema was insufficient and so she was not able to file a meaningful defence.

Mr Hichilema however, insisted that his claim against Ms Nawakwi was on point and urged the court to dismiss her application.

Judge Zulu however yesterday denied Ms Nawakwi's claim stating that Mr Hichilema's statement of claim disclosed a cause of action against her.

This means that Ms Nawakwi must now file a defence to Mr Hichilema's claim against her.

Mr Hichilema has sued Ms Nawakwi over claims that he sold to himself a house which belonged to Lima Bank in Kabulonga, Lusaka during the privatisation process.

He is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages and an order directing Ms Nawakwi to retract the defamatory words.

Mr Hichilema also wants an order of injunction to restrain Ms Nawakwi, her agents, servants and whomsoever from further defaming him or publishing similar defamatory words of him.

He is also claiming reimbursement of the sums expended by him in mitigating the effect of Ms Nawakwi's conduct towards him and arising from the publication of the defamatory words.