Chella Tukuta
GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSAwrites @SunZambian
PF deputy media director Antonio Mwanza has sued photographer Chella Tukuta for defamation.
In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Mr Mwanza said the photograppher accused him of being in an immoral relationship with FDD leader Edith Nawakwi.Mr Mwanza is demanding K500, 000 as damages, damages for libel and an order directing the defendant to retract the defamatory words.He also wants an injunction restraining Mr Tukuta from further publishing any defamatory statements against him.Mr Mwanza said the defendant published on his Facebook page entitled christened Chella Tukuta photography, defamatory words against him.“Is it true that Edith Nawakwi goes out with Antonio Mwanza? Is true she is his sugar mommy? Is it true that she sent him to PF to prepare her way to the running mate position? Let her answer these before attacking my Bally,” read the post on Mr Tukuta’s Facebook page.Mr Mwanza said the words contained in the publication meant and were understood to mean that the he was engaged in immoral behaviour with a married woman for financial and political gain.“The words contained in the publication were false, and published maliciously and were calculated to cause and did in fact cause pecuniary damage to the plaintiff’s character,” he stated.He stated that he woulf show at trial that the statement published by the defendant were libelous and to the detriment to his reputation and character.The plaintiff will also state that as a result of Mr Tukuta’s action, he incurred costs and expenses in an effort to mitigate the effects of his reputation in the sum of K500,000
Mr Mwanza will show that he made a demand to the defendant to retract the words and render an unreserved apology t but the defendant has failed to do so.
