Nashinge seeks out-of-court settlement
Local politician Immanuel Nashinge has opted for an out-0f-court settlement in a matter in which he is being sued for allegedly referring to Windhoek resident Beata Siteketa, commonly known as Betty Davids, as a “prostitute” in a WhatsApp group discussion.
Nashinge is being sued by Siteketa for N$400 000 in damages, coupled with an unconditional retraction and apology for the choice of words he allegedly used in reference to her, which were posted and shared on a WhatsApp group called ‘Global Afrika Unity’ on 3 March.
In documents filed on Monday before the Windhoek High Court, Nashinge indicated his legal team was busy engaging Siteketa’s representatives for a settlement agreement.
According to Nashinge, Siteketa was presented with the settlement agreement proposal on 7 June for consideration in an effort to resolve the matter amicably.
He has asked the court not to grant any orders in the meantime.
“The parties are still of the date hereof engaged in the discussion of the settlement proposal, the main issues being the implementation of the terms of the proposed settlement.”
He added should they not reach an agreement, the matter may proceed for case management.
Although denying having authored the message, Nashinge, in his plea filed before the High Court, said should the court find he authored the message, the statements made constitute fair comment and/or an opinion of fact.
He said the statements were not made with the intention to damage the reputation and dignity of Siteketa and the circulation of the message was not his doing.
Nashinge said, to his knowledge and understanding acquired from various sources, which includes social media, print and other media platforms, Siteketa is popularly known as a “slay queen” and a “social media influencer”, rather than an accomplished academic or businesswoman as she claims.
“Without derogating from the generality of the above denials, specifically the defendant (Nashinge) denies that the plaintiff (Siteketa) has high esteem in the eyes of the right-thinking Namibians, and that she is so highly regarded by the right-thinking Namibians as an accomplished academic and business lady,” he said.
In her suit, Siteketa claims the remarks that she is a “kid that is known for sleeping around with older man”, and that state institutions should not be used “to promote prostitutes” were made to portray her to the public as a person of “low moral scruple”, incompetent and unqualified to participate in a public discussion about investment in Namibia, and as promiscuous and someone whose “appearance may scare away investors from investing in Namibia because of her sexual adventures”.
The remarks in question were allegedly made in connection to an online interview in which Siteketa was scheduled to partake with Nangula Uaandja, the CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), an entity set up to help Namibia attract foreign investors.
Siteketa has also opened a criminal case of crimen injuria against Nashinge and the matter is before the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
Siteketa is represented by lawyer Sisa Namandje while Veiko Alexander is representing Nashinge.