Africa-Press – Malawi. Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) expelled member, Fredrick Billy Malata, has said he is waiting for the day he will appear in court for him to spill the details of who was funding him for his actions against the party’s president Peter Mutharika.
Malata who was the Deputy Director for Political Affairs for the DPP has been taking the party to court, obtaining injunctions stopping the party’s National Governing Council (NGC) meetings and other such actions.
At present, Malata still has a case in court in which he is contesting Mutharika’s legality to contest at the party’s convention saying he has already served his two terms.
Three weeks ago, Malata was arrested for allegedly defaming businessman and DPP member Alfred Gangata. He has just come out of Maula Prison where he was on remand.
He has refused to apologize to both Gangata and DPP member Dalitso Kabambe who demanded the apology and retraction of his message that circulated on the social media.
In the message, which appeared like it was being sent to some individual, Malata threatened to expose Kabambe and other four individuals for being behind the scheme fighting Mutharika.
The message further said Kabambe and the others should use their children and wives to fight Mutharika in court if they are finding it difficult to pay him for the job he did on their behalf.
And now in an interview with Malawi News yesterday, Malata stuck to his guns, saying he will prove beyond reasonable doubt in court that the points he made are not defamatory but the truth.
“They are saying I defamed Kabambe and Gangata; now let’s see in court because I will prove beyond reasonable doubt that what I said is true and not defamatory.
“I was at Maula Prison. I was failing to pay a lawyer but at that time I was able to pay expensive lawyers to go and obtain an injunction. That time I could afford a lawyer to handle our case. Where do you think we were getting the money? So if Kabambe and Gangata are saying I defamed them, let’s meet in court because I will tell the truth,” Malata said.
According to Malata, he was being sent to go to court to fight Mutharika, adding that the DPP president wasn’t aware that people who were close to him were the ones fighting him.
“He thought it was [Kondwani] Nankhumwa but no, the whole issue and the evidence will be brought to light when we get to the court.
“The issue is the presidency [of the party]. They want Mutharika out of the way. They didn’t want competition at the convention because APM said he will contest,” he said.
When we called his number, Kabambe, who is also a presidential aspirant, could not be reached as his line was not available but a source who is privy to the issue said Kabambe will proceed with the lawsuit against Malata since he is refusing to apologize.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said the party is investigating the issues around the plot against Mutharika. “We are gathering evidence. These allegations are serious and the party will move on this. The party is investigating because we need more information,” Namalomba said.
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