Former Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) registrar Aaron Mujajati has sued Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya seeking damages for allegedly defaming his character. Dr Mujajati has accused the minister of issuing innuendos against him in connection with the former’s closure of some health institutions when was HPCZ registrar.

He is now seeking an injunction restraining Dr Chilufya from issuing further defamatory words against him because they have injured his reputation. Attorney General Likando Kalaluka is the first respondent, while Dr Chilufya is second. In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Dr Mujajati states that on or about January 18 this year, Dr Chilufya allegedly issued false and malicious statements to the media against him.

He says the alleged false and malicious statements, which were by way of an innuendo, were in the light of his [Dr Mujajati’s] decision to close some medical institutions. The alleged innuendos issued by Dr Chilufya read: “…Your job is not to be a police service to people to go and harm, intimidate, harass and police people.”

“You are detached from reality, you need to tone down, you need to sobre up, you have gone on rampage charging hospitals exorbitant fees and have not been sensitive on the universal health coverage agenda,” the statement reads. Dr Mujajati says the innuendos by Dr Chilufya suggest his conduct amounted to lawlessness that cannot be condoned, among other things. He says the minister’s words in their natural and ordinary meaning are understood to mean that he is allegedly a tyrant, proud, self-proclaimed, irrational, inhumane policeman and detached from reality.

“The said words mean that the plaintiff lost direction and was incompetent to be a chief executive officer or health practitioner, and that the plaintiff condoned lawlessness,” the document reads. Dr Mujajati says Dr Chilufya should have known that the allegation that he is allegedly incompetent and irrational is untrue, and that the “exorbitant fees” charged on hospitals by HPCZ were approved by his own hand.

He says the minister ought to have known that his [Dr Mujajati’s] employer did not express dissatisfaction over his conduct. “The second respondent ought to have known the negative effects of expired drugs on unsuspecting members of the public, and operating a health facility without a licence, among other acts, and, therefore, the closure of such institutions was not on flimsy grounds,” the document reads. He says Dr Chilufya should have known that he (Dr Mujajati) is a qualified medical doctor of high standing in the country’s medical profession.