THE Lusaka High Court has ordered Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda to pay Dangote Industries Zambia Limited over K112,000 for defamation.
But when the matter came up yesterday, lawyer representing Dangote Industries Armanda Theotis applied for adjournment because the cement company and Mr Shamenda wish to settle the matter out of court.
High Court deputy registrar Charles Zulu has ordered Mr Shamenda to pay Dangote Industries Zambia Limited K112,042.84 for not appearing in court and failure to file any defence.
This is according to an interlocutory judgment in default of appearance and defence signed by Mr Zulu on Wednesday.
In this matter, Dangote Industries Zambia Limited had sued Mr Shamenda demanding aggravated damages for alleged slander and libel after he accused the cement company of trying to bribe him last year.
“The defendant having not appeared or delivered any defence to the writ of summons and statement of claim, following the expiration of the conditional memorandum of appearance and the defendant’s failure to amend his application to set aside writ of summons for irregularity.
“It is this day adjudged that judgment in default of appearance and defence be and is hereby entered in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant for special damages in the sum of K112,042.84 to be assessed by the deputy registrar,” he said.
Mr Zulu further ruled that an interlocutory judgement be entered against Mr Shamenda in favour of Dangote Industries for damages for general damages for slander he published.
Mr Shamenda is alleged to have published the slander in the presence and hearing of the Labour Commissioner Cecilia Kamanga, Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Nkole Chishimba and his general secretary Joseph Chewe, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board public relations manager Maybin Nkolomba, Patriotic Front (PF) members and various members of the local press present on September 13, last year at a meeting held at the company’s premises in Ndola.
The court also ordered that Mr Shamenda pays general damages for libel he caused to be published in the local media on September 15, and October 1, last year.
Mr Zulu also ruled that the minister pays aggravated and exemplary damages for slander and libel and interest on the money at current bank lending rate.
But Dangote Industries’ lawyer Armanda Theotis applied for adjournment.
“I have an application to make for an adjournment, reason being that I have received instructions from my client that they may want to resolve this matter amicably and out of court,” Ms Theotis said.
She said she wants to get further instructions on the issue so that she can make an appropriate order if the parties want the issue settled out of court.
The matter comes up on June 12, 2015.
Good move dangote management for making up your minds to settle this matter outside the court.He is human(mr.shamenda),he may make mistakes.
shamdenda , a typical clueless corrupt PF clown who lacks any sense or integrity. surely, how does a senior citizen like him mess up like this? The leader of the ministry of labour is caught up in what is seemingly a desperate attempt to get bribes from investors. And some rifraff will come out and say ifintu ni pf. Utter stupidity. Go to any ministry in the country and i challenge you to point out one that is performing at par. Please vote upnd to avoid such huge corrupt embarrasments. If a senior figure can be caught up in an attempt to seek bribes then surely how can they foster the fight against corruption
Even a wining team needs some substutes.
Wish the matter to be settled out of court? Is it not that the firm was standing and banking at the lack of evidence? Yes, they will invite Shamenda to Stockholm, offer him a better deal, apologise & assure him that ‘evidence in these matters is NEVER solid: ASK HAKAINDE!” How do you think he amassed mountain of liquidity in 3 years.
kiki even when the truth is facing you right in the face you choose to be ignorant. your minister was busy visiting dangote premises without reason like a starved chicken hoping to see something wrong and demand bribe in order to turn blind eye. Now this somehow involves hh a man who does not need money or assistance from anyone. Maybe if we had more HHs in this country, then we wouldnt have corrupt old chaps like shamendas roaming the country. kiki vote upnd and emancipate yourself from poverty and stupidity in your head
Look nez dnt tel pipo to vote upnd as a party tel them to vote HH.a party shud hav a representative and sel that person.im sure u wil get sme sense
This hole @hilda m has bin quiet.
Hope Mr Shamenda has drawn some lessons from this experience. They won’t even settle out of court. He may just turn a blind eye to the suffering of Zambian workers at the plant as a favour for the mercy shown to him. Tactless slow – witted leaders. On this one, he f-d up right at the start. This could have played in his favour but he spoke too soon.
Ba nez u are sayiny hh does not need money or assistance,do u think if he happens to be the president he can not steal from the same poor zambians,if he managened to steal when he was entrusted with a small portion?
You mean the zambian government entrusted with companies they had sole control of.
These all things shows that pf government repect separation of power where have you see a serving cabinet minister to be convicted.
Kiki so you are sayin it is ok pf will continue having convicts as leaders. Very foolish. Being led by a thief. Leadership has lost moral ground in Zambia
Nez i read all comments and the problem with u is that u think u know every corner of zambia,dn’t just keep yoself busy on media u should be going round and get views from zambian.
kanchine thanks for the advice mune. I have worked at grass roots level as well as in other capacities. Currently,we have people working on the ground and feeding back vital information. If anything even our president has taken it upon himself to have door to door campaigns. Currently am volunteering in this pilot project of online interaction as I am currently travelling alot. We have also realised that the internet is the future and an effective way of capturing the much needed youth vote. However, we will take on your advice and feed this back to our team. we thank you
Zambians like upnd but they fill hh is not the best person to rule zambia but the problem with u guys if someone tells u that u respond with bitterness.
shame