(MISA/IFEX) – Dumbo Lemani, Malawi presidential affairs minister and director general of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party, has sued “The Chronicle” weekly newspaper for aggravated damages. According to the writ of summons issued to the newspaper by the Malawi High Court, Lemani is taking issue with a story “The Chronicle” ran in its […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Dumbo Lemani, Malawi presidential affairs minister and director general of the
ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party, has sued “The Chronicle” weekly newspaper for aggravated damages.
According to the writ of summons issued to the newspaper by the Malawi High Court, Lemani is taking issue with a story “The Chronicle” ran in its 4-10 March 2002 edition. The newspaper quoted remarks by Yusuf Wadi, an executive member of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who alleged that the Anti-Corruption Bureau was failing to prosecute UDF leaders.
The newspaper reported that “Wadi cited several financial scandals in which the big wigs were involved but have been left untouched, like the Petroleum Control Commission (PCC) where Dumbo Lemani is involved by virtue of being Minister of Energy at the time coupled with Davis
Kapito who was chairman of PCC.”
Lemani argues that the article insinuated, in part, that he was using his political clout to defeat the course of justice and that he was corrupt.
He contends that “The Chronicle” ran the story out of malevolence and spite towards him, which he said put him “into public scandal, odium and contempt.” Lemani strengthens his case by contending that the newspaper did not interview either the Anti-Corruption Bureau or himself to verify the facts.
The minister is seeking damages on the footing of aggravated or exemplary damages and costs.
Since 2000, “The Chronicle” has been slapped with five lawsuits. In addition to the Lemani case, two cases were launched by Speaker of National Assembly Sam Mpasu, one was launched by President Bakili Muluzi, and another by UDF’s Aleke Banda (see IFEX alert of 22 May 2001).