Witness exonerates Imboela in defamation of Hamasaka case

A WITNESS has told the Lusaka Magistrate court that he worked with Clayson Hamasaka at the Zambian Watchdog, an online publication as an editor to create propaganda against the Patriotic Front when it was in government.

Wilson Mpondamali, a former senior reporter, Editor and Co Administrator of the Zambian Watchdog, yesterday told the court that the now Chief Communication Specialist at State House, Clayson Hamasaka was his boss.

Mr. Mpondamali told magistrate Sylvia Munyinya that they used to write stories against any individuals perceived to be against then opposition, United Party for National development (UPND) while at the same time creating scandals against the PF, real and imaginary.

He was testifying in a matter in which National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, Saboi Imboela is charged with defamation of State House Communication Specialist, Hamasaka, a charge she denied.

Mr. Mpondamali who is a defense witness said Imboela complained to him that she was having wrangles with Feston Hamasaka and not Clayson Hamasaka.

“I do recall very well around September 2022, Saboi, the person that I have known told me that she was having some media wrangles with Festos Hamasaka and if I had known him. I told her that I cannot know him.

Then later after that I saw a post on Saboi imboela (SI) page on Facebook, which she posted a Hamasaka having an affair and that the marriage was on rocks. Later on in a WhatsApp blog called Dynamic Analysis Zambia, I saw a comment of Clayson Hamasaka threatening to take legal action against Imboela. I happened to know Hamasaka as a fellow Journalist whom I worked with at Zambian Watchdog,” Mr Pondamali testified.

He testified that he had known Imboela for quiet sometime since 2014.

“Both are my friends and Saboi complained to me that they had fights with Feston Hamasaka. My relationship with Hamasaka has been cordial from the time we know each other we continued speaking and socializing and he recently visited me at my workplace in Kabwe, he sent me a K1,000 on valentines days the other week and we later discovered that he was a relative in marriage,” he testified.

And in cross examination when asked by state prosecutor, Mr. Lewis Kandela if he had documentary evidence before court to support his testimony, Mr Mpondamali said he only has his mouth as evidence.

It is alleged that Imboela on September 9, 2022 with other persons unknown, with intent to defame, unlawfully did publish defamatory matters “Against Clayson Hamasaka on a Facebook page called SABOI IMBOELA-SI. Defense continues on March 11, 2024