WHICH EVER SIDE YOU ARE ON, TUKUTA WAS WRONG

Dear Editor,

When asked by a radio presenter if Chellah Tukuta was wrong in the case he was jailed for, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema had a tough time trying to run away from the question. This is called justifying a wrong with a wrong.

The million dollar question is: was Chellah Tukuta wrong? The answer is a big YES, and this is why.

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court sentenced Chellah Tukuta to two years imprisonment with hard labour for libel.

WHAT IS LIBEL?

– Libel involves the act of publishing a statement about an individual, either in written form or broadcast over media platforms such as radio, television, or the Internet, that is untrue and threatens to harm the reputation and/or livelihood of the targeted person. Libel is considered a civil wrong (tort) and can, therefore, be the basis of a lawsuit.

Chellah was found guilty of defaming former Information minister Dora Siliya after he circulated a video on May 26, last year in which he alleged that Ms Siliya was a pimp who sells young girls to high profile men for sex and claimed that she was a  high  professional prostitute.

He however, pleaded not guilty but after Ms Siliya and other State witnesses testified in the matter, he was found with a case to answer and placed him on defence.

Tukuta opted to remain silent and did not call any witnesses to aid his case.

And according to the judgment, magistrate Mwale said the publication was wrongfully published as it was meant to defame Ms Siliya, a high profile minister at the time.

Comrades, no matter which side of the ocean you are, Tukuta’s statement was extremely careless and calculated to injure Ms Siliya’s reputation.

Believe you me, there is nothing political about Tukuta’s case, judgement and jailing. He did the publication of the said video with a sane, all knowing in mind of the consequences to come.

Mr Hichilema is vying for the top seat of this nation of which he should be able to call a spade a spade and not a big spoon.

The price of lying is often a high one: being known as a deceiver.

If a leader lies, people cannot trust them. If your boss lies, you cannot rely on them. If your manager lies, you cannot count on them. If your colleague lies, you cannot hold confidence in them.

The lack of trust is a high price to pay for deception, and it can cause a great trap—one that the deceiver isn’t even aware of. But you can identify deceivers by these traits, which are among side effects of deception:

Emotionally manipulative.

Notorious blamers.

Professional bait and switchers.

Remarkably charming.

It’s vote wisely again come August 12.

Benjamin – The Prince

Lusaka, Zambia.