Full-time: Amupanda 0-1 Hinda

Public officials should expect to be criticised - softly or harshly - on the basis of holding government accountable, but they cannot be expected to stomach defamatory statements directed at them in their private capacities, a judge remarked before slapping damages of N$100 000 onto activist Job Amupanda yesterday.Deputy finance minister Maureen Hinda-Mbuende sued Amupanda for defamation, claiming that his social media post on 28 July 2021 was defamatory, and caused damage to her reputation.Amupanda allegedly posted a picture of a woman clad in jeans and dark glasses, accompanied by a caption that reads: “It looks like deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda during the liberation struggle. Maureen was so wiz wiz. It’s like she won’t think twice about taking a knife out!”High Court judge Collins Parker yesterday ruled that Amupanda’s post was defamatory, and ordered the aspiring presidential candidate to pay the deputy minister a cool N$100 000.Even Job of the BibleIn his judgment, Parker emphasised the gravity of the case, noting that both parties held high positions, which made the matter particularly significant and notable. He highlighted that Hinda-Mbuende, at the time and still currently, is the deputy minister of finance and her role involves interacting with colleagues both within and outside Namibia. "Given her position, her reputation must be upheld as she serves the interests of Namibians both domestically and abroad," the judgment read."Indeed, moved by a keen sense of honour, even Job from the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, who was the mirror of patience, became quodammodo [to a certain extent] impatient when libels were made against him,” Judge Parker remarked. He added that during cross-examination, Amupanda&#039;s legal representative Kadhila Amoomo seemed to suggest that the deputy finance minister, being a politician and a minister, should have accepted Amupanda&#039;s statements without complaint. Hinda-Mbuende sued Amupanda, saying his series of posts against her implied that she was promiscuous. This, she said, constituted bullying and harassment.According to the judge, Amupanda’s assertion that Hinda-Mbuende wouldn’t think twice about taking out a knife was defamatory. For subsequent social media posts, Hinda-Mbuende alleged defamation on five grounds. The judge found that only one of these claims was proven and considered it in the ruling. For the experienceVitalio Angula, a witness for Hinda-Mbuende, testified on his articles related to Amupanda’s posts about the deputy finance minister. Judge Parker said Angula exaggerated and distorted some of Amupanda’s social media posts for personal gain. "Angula&#039;s articles were filled with wild and baseless claims about Amupanda’s statements. During cross-examination, Amupanda&#039;s lawyer suggested that Hinda-Mbuende should have sued Angula instead of Amupanda." Despite this, the judge said he respects Angula for being honest. "He agreed to testify just for the experience, as he had never been involved in court proceedings before. I hope we didn&#039;t disappoint him in that regard."

Full-time: Amupanda 0-1 Hinda

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Full-time: Amupanda 0-1 Hinda

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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