The K5 million damages awarded to the Post newspaper and Fred Namakando M’membe has come as a complete shock to renowned freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III.
Chimba told the Daily Nation that the default judgment by the Lusaka High Court came as a surprise because he had never failed to defend himself and the quantum of the award was incredible.
Mr. Chimba said the only time the matter was active in the courts of law was in 2010 and that it was not possible that he had failed to make submissions in his defence.
He said it was also not possible that he could not attend court sessions, when he had been attending other civil court cases he was facing before the same courts of law.
“It is a regrettable default judgment. The last time the matter was active before the courts of law was in 2010 and since then I have heard nothing about it. “I am yet to meet my lawyers because I am being represented by my lawyers. I have not even seen the judgment. People are the ones calling me asking about the same,” he said.
Mr. Chimba wondered how he could not defend himself when he had done the same in other many matters before the courts of law.
“You see I have many court cases. I have a civil matter with TIZ, I have a civil matter with ZNBC and have other matters where I have made submissions in my defence. So how can I not make submissions in my defence in that matter against Fred Namakando M’membe and his Post?”
According to the Post, the Lusaka High Court has ordered Mr. Chimba to pay K5million for defamation he committed in 2010.
But yesterday Chapter 19 media activist Henry Crawford said the Lusaka High Court award of K5million against journalist Mr Chimba following a claim by Post Newspapers was an affront to journalism and an attempt to bully other media houses.
He said defamation should not be used to paralyze and instill fear against freedom of expression, especially by media houses that should be campaigning against any legal and social hindrances against Press freedom.
“MISA must work with Chimba to appeal this ruling which, if allowed to stand, will have devastating effect on the media in Zambia because it will have established a precedence that other courts will follow.” Mr. Crawford said.
He said the highest defamation charge that the Post newspaper was ordered to pay was K35,000 against real estate consultant Sony Mulenga.
Ba pompwe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Umwaiche adabwa u see nw that Sata was toothless..go en seek help frm shikapwasha..
meaning men are upright or wats de meaning of dis whole nosense
Kakengila kamambala one day. Let him wait and see. He will stop shouting on radio. Of late he has not been calling unza radio kanshi he had issues? His friend will not forgive him untill he pays. His friend doesnot compromise where money is concerned.
it a lesson to all,not be used like tissue paper you now loner one no is backing up chanda chimba the third
If he fails to pay?
Abati “this is an afront to Journslism”. And yet he himself is an afront to humanity. Yiou pick on any man and think you can drag his name through the mud? Then lilya court yakufyanta wapunda auti “MISA Zambia! Help” You were the first Chanda to bring this name in disrepute. Elyo amaChanda nabambi bakonkelesha. Right Now, LIVE WITH IT!!!
Is this K5m re based or not?. CC in trouble and ratio to share this money is 2,1,1& 1 guess who are beneficiaries
He was just being used like a condom.Foolish idiot.l
Fair judgement! This “belly” journalist ought to be be taught a lesson such that others may learn from it! Freedom of expression ends with someone else’s individual rights!
Stand up zambia
iwe just pay.. and dnt play with the post like u did with our late president
You reported that Mmembe is gay and a satanist. Now prove it ka Chanda Chimbwi.
It is very true that stand up for zambia was a fabric vof the mmd in power at the time. It was all to demean the late president sata but went wildy and touched other lives of the some of us. Chimba was the epique of the confused journalism of the belly and he made milloins.
Us we were on the terraces watching. It does not take you to be a journalist to foresee that chanda Chimba was digging his grave so painlessly until now that the pain is real.
one other thing is him boosting of facing so many charges b4 the courts of law, it clearly tell us that the chap is a lwa breaker or he trespasses in people’s lives . Let it be a warning that journalism is noy for politicians to expediency their agendas.Just Pay another fraudster period !
Chanda chimba ukose mune,ndaba takuleke M’membe,,,
Ba Chanda nokulandisha muleke,where will you get the money? wamona nomba.. the mouth is a mighty sword
Infact the money is little “bushe teti ba court balundeko so that chanda chimba omfweko bwino ifyo baleumfwa abanankwe ilyo alebwata-bwata na ukubosa-bosa”
chanda chimba the third… MISA help… U thnk tht pipo ar foolish… Look 4 money pantu mmembe takulekeko boi… Mulenashako nechi-landelande
I just remember a sketch long time go where CC the III featured. The dentist was pulling patients’ teeth brutally. The he came out and called: Chanda Chimba, you are the Next!!!!! Indeed, you are the next to face the pain of having you ass… (Sorry).
Chanda Chimba was company journalist for RB, who has cheated you that he doesn’t have the ZMW 5M to pay off for this case.
RB paid him huge somes of Tax Payers money. This guy has a lot of money.He is a beneficially of RB ingenuity and selfishness.
Lesa nimalyotola. Do this guys go to church?
Ba chanda chimbwi jst pay u thought u were cleaver whn u were deforming our late president at the expense of mmd.remember God’s time is the best ,now your time has come stand up and face it
Chanda Chimba the butatu, you really carried yourself around like Jihadi John in Isil territory. Now that territory is no more.