Hassan Magulumali
Renowned Tanzanian and international cartoonist, designer, and radio and television presenter, Ally Masoud Nyomwa, popularly known as Masoud Kipanya, has filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Tanzania (Dar es Salaam Registry) against Burton Mwemba, known as Mwijaku, accusing him of defamation and tarnishing his reputation and dignity through written statements on social media.
According to a statement released by Kipanya’s lawyer, Alloyce Komba from Haki Kwanza Advocates, the High Court received and registered the case (No. 18911 of 2024) on August 5, 2024, and Judge David Ngunyale will begin hearing the case on September 3, 2024.
“The defendant, Mr. Burton Mwijaku, has been served with a summons to file a written statement of defense and is required to submit his defense within 21 days of receiving the summons,” the statement read.
Kipanya has sued Mwijaku for allegedly defaming him through written statements on June 4, 2024, on his Facebook page and Instagram account, where he claimed that Kipanya is involved in illegal businesses that ruin the lives of many young people in the country.
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Additionally, Kipanya stated in his lawsuit that Mwijaku alleged that he, Kipanya, insults and humiliates national and government leaders, particularly presidents, for bribes.
Kipanya is seeking the court to order Mwijaku to pay TZS 500 million in specific damages, which will be proven in court, along with TZS 5 billion in general damages. He is also requesting punitive damages and an interest rate of 31% on specific damages from June 4, 2024, until the judgment is executed.
Furthermore, Kipanya has asked the court to declare that the statements made and disseminated by Mwijaku were false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation and dignity. He also seeks an unconditional apology from Mwijaku and the removal of the defamatory statements from social media.
