By Chinoyi Chipulu
State House chief communication specialist Clayson Hamasaka says he does not know Petauke-Central member of parliament Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda to have abducted him.
Lodging a complaint against Banda for criminal defamation for alleging that he abducted him, Hamasaka stated that he wanted Banda to be prosecuted so that he is given an opportunity to avail whatever evidence he has against him.
“The offence being associated with me is itself a very serious criminal offence. I have never met the said purportedly abducted individual in my life and I do not know him, other than hearing that he is one of the members of parliament. He equally does not know me as he has never interacted with me in any manner whatsoever,” he stated.
In a letter dated 12 June 12, 2024, addressed to the Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba, Hamasaka lodged a formal complaint against Banda and his collaborators issuing and circulating media statements on his behalf for criminal libel.
He stated that on June 2, 2024 he came across social media reports that he was among those who allegedly abducted Banda.
“I dismissed the allegations as baseless and mere social media falsehoods on discredited platforms but today I have read a Daily Nation News Paper article headlined “JayJay narrates cruel torture. “And in the said article have been named as one of the alleged abductors. The said daily nation article is accompanied by a letter purportedly signed by the said Jay Jay Banda.”
He stated that the reports and letters being circulated amounted to serious defamation of his character which went beyond civil libel.
Hamasaka also stated that the reports and publications were therefore, false and mere fabrications.
“On the other hand, the same publications and allegations are a serious dent on my personal character and pause a serious threat to my livelihood and personal safety as well as that of my entire family, as my accusers are not ordinary people but persons who have a public following, who can take matters in their own hands and decide to harm me,” he stated.
He added that the allegations were motivated by ill will and meant to scandalise and bring him down in view of the sensitive public office he held.
