PF presidential candidate, Sampa, sues Chongu for defamation of character

Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate, Miles Sampa, has denied any link to the murder of NIPA student, Ruth Mbandu, and has sued his fellow party member, Maxwell Chongu, in the Lusaka High Court for defamation of character while demanding damages.

Sampa complained that the statements made by Chongu, who he described as a cadre linking him to the gruesome murder of the 19-year-old student had his reputation seriously injured and his prospects of becoming Republican President blurred.

The Matero Member of Parliament alleged that Chongu posted libelous statements in the ZAMEC CORRUPTION WhatsApp group which read: “only an idiot would support his actions, Who killed Ruth Mbandu?.

“The defendant uttered the aforesaid falsehood against the plaintiff when in fact the plaintiff did not know the said Ruth Mbandu, never met the said Ruth Mbandu and never spoke to the said Ruth Mbandu at any time in the plaintiff’s life,” he stated.

Sampa said the uttred words by the defendant in their natural and ordinary meaning were understood to mean that the he murdered Mbandu and was not fit to hold the office of President of the Republic of Zambia.

He stated the said group had 500 participants.

“The defendant went further by publishing the words filled with falsehood and a number of other insulting and injurious words on social media platforms that have wider circulation throughput Zambia and beyond,” he said.

Sampa has demanded for damages for defamation, a retraction and an apology from Chongu.

Mbundu was killed in July, 2012, by unknown people with her facial skin and eyes removed.

The two suspects in the case were acquitted by the Lusaka High Court in 2017 due to lack of sufficient evidence.

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