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UPND Member of Parliament (MP), Heartson Mabeta, has defended his comments regarding former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) board chairperson, Musa Mwenye SC, asserting that they were not defamatory but addressed a matter of significant public interest.
This response comes in the light of Mwenye’s legal action against Mabeta, alleging libel and malicious falsehood.
The dispute centers on Mabeta’s claims that Mwenye sought a High Court directive for KCM to pay US$33 million to Copperbelt Energy to secure a US$3 million commission by allegedly pressuring Judge Charles Kafunda to expedite an out-of-court settlement.
In his defense, Mabeta argued that Mwenye’s role as ACC Board Chair, which influenced his involvement, was pertinent to understanding his public actions.
Mabeta emphasized that the scheme of creditors, a topic of substantial public interest, warranted scrutiny, particularly given the high-profile nature of Mwenye’s position.
Mabeta explained that he engaged with Mwenye during a court stand-down to confirm whether he was acting in his official capacity to ensure corruption-free proceedings and expedite the resolution.
He claimed that Mwenye’s role was misunderstood, leading to delays that affected creditors’ satisfaction.
The MP further contended that criticisms in the plaintiff’s statement of claim were misplaced.
He maintained that his statements were neither malicious nor defamatory but were fair comments based on his understanding of the situation.
Mabeta asserted that he had no intent to defame or damage Mwenye’s reputation but aimed to discuss the challenges surrounding the creditors’ scheme.
He rejected claims of malice, stating that his comments were intended to address public concerns, not to undermine Mwenye’s reputation.
Mabeta criticized the plaintiff’s use of terms like “defamation” and “contempt” as excessive and misrepresentative of his position.
Mabeta also disputed allegations of acting in bad faith, noting his attempts to resolve the matter amicably before facing legal action.
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