HH Demands Apology From Tayali

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has demanded an apology from Economic and Equity Party leader Chilufya Tayali over defamatory statements Mr Tayali made against Mr Hichilema in a press briefing.

Speaking to ZNBC on Sunday, Mr Tayali said Mr Hichilema should be in jail rather than running for president in 2021. 

Mr Hichilema has demanded that Tayali withdraw his statements or face legal penalties of up to K10 million for damage to his reputation.

Tayali also accused the UPND leader of corruptly benefitting from the privatisation of state assets, a charge which has been dismissed several times.

Mr Hichilema’s lawyers have written to Tayali, urging him to withdraw his libellous statements or face legal proceedings. 

“Suffice to say that as a result of your false and malicious utterances, our client has suffered pecuniary damages and non-percuniary damages for the severe harm to the reputation that he has built over the years in his political, business and corporate circles including the erosion of the trust he has earned from the electorate in Zambia”, the letter said. 

They have also asked the board of ZNBC to issue a similar apology for airing defamatory material about Mr Hichilema, contrary to the media ethics of fair coverage.