Uncle sues nephew for defamation

EPHRAIM CEASAR writes A 37 year old man of Kanyama west has been taken to court by his uncle for defamation of character. Jackson Phiri, 60 of Kanyama West  has  sued David Phiri his nephew for defamation after his biological son told him that his cousin was saying his uncle paid K10,000 to cadres to beat his mother. Facts before the Kanyama local court are that on unknown date in August, 2020, David Phiri the defendant had phoned his cousin, son to   Phiri saying his father had paid cadres to beat his mother because of land boundaries.  Phiri said when his son informed of what his nephew was saying, he then decided to take his nephew to court  for defamation.  Phiri said such accusation are not to be taken lightly because they can dent his image in the family and that his nephew was fond of insulting him whenever they deferred. “Your honor I want to know where I gave that K10,000 to and why I would want my own sister in law to be beaten over a piece of land I don’t know of,” Phiri said In his defense David Phiri denied any claim of accusing his uncle of paying cadres to beat his mother. David said he only called his cousin to ask why cadres were at his house threatening his mother and his children. “ine sinina batumileko phone ba uncle, nina tumila cousin wangamwana wabo aba kumu funsa why ma cadres benzo yofwa ba mainabana banga,” David said. Meanwhile the presiding Kanyama local court magistrate, MubukwanuMatalaka said the defamation case cannot hold because there was no eye witness to the matter and it was based on hearsay. The judge further said that there is something that the two parties are failing to say that is causing them to fight. The magistrate dismissed the case and asked the family to sit and talk about their differences with other family members. The Sun