BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court has ruled that the embattled lawyer and anti-corruption Alexious Kamangila is liable in a defamation case brought by Judge Kenan Manda, and has ordered that the assessment of damages proceed.
The ruling was made by Judge Howard Pemba following an application filed last Friday by Manda’s lawyer, Michael Goba Chipeta.
The application sought to have Kamangila’s defence struck out for failing to comply with court directions issued during a scheduling conference on March 5, 2025.
Those directions required both parties to file witness statements and skeleton arguments within 21 days.
Judge Pemba found that Kamangila had not met the court’s requirements and certified that Manda’s application could be heard ex parte, without prior service on the defendant.
In his order, Pemba directed that the determination of compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages be referred to the Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal, who will set a date for the assessment.
The court also issued a permanent injunction restraining Kamangila, his agents, associates, and legal representatives from publishing or causing the publication of the same or similar defamatory statements concerning Judge Manda.
Kamangila was further ordered to remove or delete the offending publications within 24 hours of being served with the order.
The defamation case stems from a demand letter sent by Manda on 7 October 2024, in which he sought MK250 million in damages, a public apology, and an end to what he described as further defamatory statements and false information about him.
Responding to the ruling, Kamangila said he disagrees with the court’s decision.
The matter will now move to the damages assessment phase before the Registrar, with a date for that process yet to be set.
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