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Sean Tembo, president of the Patriots for Economic Progress, has asked the High Court to dismiss the defamation case filed by Levy Ngoma, political advisor to the President, and Trevor Mwiinde, UPND Deputy Youth Chairperson.
Tembo contended that his call for their investigation following their implication in the abduction of Petauke Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda was not defamatory.
Oma and Mwiinde are seeking damages for defamation from Tembo, NDC leader Saboi Imboela, freelance journalist Allan Zgambo, and Banda, alleging false accusations of orchestrating Banda’s abduction.
In his defense, Tembo argued that his statements were factual, constituted fair comment and were not defamatory when considered in the full context of the events.
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He claimed that Banda himself named Ngoma and Mwiinde as being involved in his abduction and his call for the police to arrest the named individuals was a demand for law enforcement to act impartially.
Tembo asserts that any damage to the plaintiffs’ reputations or emotional distress was caused by Banda’s accusation and that he merely urged the police to investigate the named abductors.
He noted that the Inspector General of Police informed him on July 9, 2024, that investigations into the plaintiffs’ involvement in Banda’s abduction were ongoing.
Tembo argues that the defamation claim is a tactic to harass and intimidate him, hindering his role as an opposition leader.
He requested the court to dismiss the case with costs, deeming it frivolous, vexatious and lacking a cause of action.
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