Maid loses defamation case against her ex-employer

RABECCA BANDA writes

THE Chilenje local court has dismissed a case of defamation in which a woman of Bauleni compound had sued her ex-employer who allegedly accused her of being on ARVs.
Prudence Ngosi,33, sued Grace Chibowa,57, of New Kasama seeking to be compensated for defamation.
But Chilenje local court presiding magistrate Ackim Phiri sitting with Patrick Nyirenda dismissed the case for insufficient evidence.
Ngosi said her employer accused her of taking ARVs which was not true.
“The first time she said I was taking ARVs we were just the two of us but I ignored it and didn’t say anything to her. The second time my boss spoke in the presence of my brother and a child,” Ngosi said.
She was upset and later she complained to her husband but that angered her.
“I want the court to assist me in this case but I don’t want her to compensate me because it will create more problems,” Ngosi said.
In her defence, Chibowa said her employee was not truthful as she was only trying to give advice.
“I employed her as a maid at my house on 17th February,2019. I asked her stay in my cottage .One day, I returned home unexpectedly and my maid was nowhere to be found,
“I went to the cottage and found her child with an empty paper of ARVs. I talked to the child and she said it belonged to her mother,” Chibowa said.
Chibowa said she later confronted Ngosi but she denied she was on ARVs.
“I tried to advise her concerning the epidemic but she insisted on not being ARVs. I didn’t tell her in public that she was taking ARVs, only her brother and child were present,” Chibowa said.
She was therefore surprised that Ngosi bought her summons.
“We don’t see eye to eye but I have no hatred for her. This has however irritated me,” said Chibowa
The court dismissed the case because of insufficient evidence.
Ends..