LUCY PHIRI writes
@SunZambian
A Lusaka man who called his brother a thief on a face book page has been fined K2, 000 by a local court for defamation.
Before Chelstone Local Court Presiding Magistrate Mary Namangala was Andrew Kaniki,40, of Chamba Valley who sued his brother Twenda Sikazwe,33, of Libala Stage 2 for posting threats against him on Face book and calling him a thief on the same platform.
Kaniki told court that, in 2017 they agreed to start a business together which went on perfectly.
“I am a professional photographer and my brother is a professional chef, so we decided to form up a business together called ” Two Chefs One Mission ” where he would cook and I was filming,
“It started so well, everything was okay the project was operating so well not until Sikazwe said he had a trip to undertake outside Zambia and wanted the footage,” said Kaniki
Kaniki said he did not refuse to give Sikazwe the footage he wanted the footage but also wanted his share to pay the people who would help him shoot the video.
“But while I was away, he started sending me text messages threatening me that if I don’t give him the footage he will involve the police,
“I am a public figure and that he decided to post on Facebook saying I am a thief and that if he did not surrender the footage the police will deal with me, did not sound well to me,”” said Kaniki
He told the court that all he wanted was for Sikazwe to remove the post on Facebook because everyone had been calling me asking me what was happening.
In defence Sikazwe said he posted on Facebook because he wanted his brother’s attention.
“I used to call him but he never picked up or responded to my text messages so I decided to awake him so he could respond quickly,” said Sikazwe.
Kaniki insisted that he wanted his brother to retract the message and offer him an apology.
The two brothers reconciled and Sikazwe agreed to retract the message.
It however ordered Sikazwe to pay Kaniki K2,000 starting this month end as compensation for defamation.
