By Esther Chisola
A Lusaka resident Patrick Mwango has sued Stanbic Bank Zambia in the Lusaka Hight Court demanding K300,000 as damages for defamation of character.
Mwango who has cited the bank as the respondent also wants damages for inconvenience, interest on the sums due and costs.
According to a statement of claim filed in court, the plaintiff stated that the defendant issued a letter on June 17, 2022 in which it demanded for the settlement of K83,090.84 being the alleged outstanding arrears in respect of card number 4592-6000-0005-1709 within 60 days from the date of default failure to which the defendant would report him to the Credit Reference Agency (CRA).
He submitted that he made a candid reply to the bank through a letter dated July 13, 2022 stating that his card number was 4592-6000-0005-1717 and not card number 4592-6000-0005-1709.
“Despite the letter in paragraph five of the statement of claim being duly issued to the defendant, the defendant went ahead to institute criminal investigations against the defendant, reported him to the Credit Reference Agency (CRA) and the court bailiffs have since been harassing and nagging the plaintiff over card number 4592-6000-0005-1709,” he stated.
Mwango also submitted that due to the defendant’s actions, the plaintiff had suffered damage to his reputation.
“I’m unable to contract any loan from any financial lending institution due to the defendant’s erroneous report about the plaintiffs’ credit profile to the Credit Reference Agency (CRA). The total of the interest and the principal sum is now K125,000,” stated Mwango.
