Local Government Minister Gary Nkombo has sued Sean Tembo for defamation and demanded K40 million in damages.
Nkombo contends that Tembo, who heads the Patriots for Economic Progress party, falsely accused him of orchestrating an arson attack on the opposition member of parliament, Jean Chisenga’s house.
He said the defamatory allegations were broadcast on Tembo’s Facebook page and the private television station, Diamond.
In the aftermath of the statements, Nkombo demanded a retraction from both Tembo and Diamond Television. The latter complied but the former has “refused or failed or neglected to accede” to Nkombo’s demands.
Tembo is quoted as saying “Gary Nkombo made a very specific threat well quoted in the media where he said Hon [Honorable] Jean Chisenga will not go unpunished and now, we have seen that Jean Chisenga the honourable member has been punished.”
Nkombo states that these words, in their natural and ordinary meaning, imply that he is guilty of the offense of arson.
Tembo’s comments were in reference to an incident involving Chisenga, in which she called President Hichilema a liar when he opened the National Assembly session earlier this year.
