AUGUSTINE MUKOKA DEMANDS RETRACTION FROK SIMUWE OVER NATIONALITY CLAIMS
MUKOKA DEMANDS RETRACTION FROK SIMUWE OVER NATIONALITY CLAIMS
US-based Zambian journalist Augustine Mukoka has, through his lawyers, demanded the immediate withdrawal and retraction of an article questioning his nationality and calling on him to stop commenting on Zambian affairs.
In a letter addressed to UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe, Mulunda and Company Legal Practitioners say they have been retained by Mr Mukoka over what they describe as false and defamatory statements, disparaging remarks and cyber harassment against their client and some members of his family.
The lawyers say an article published on or around September 28, 2026, on a Facebook page under the name Mark Simuuwe was headlined, “Questions raised over Augustine Mukonka’s nationality as calls grow for him to stop commenting on Zambian affairs.”
They argue that the article suggests that Mr Mukoka is of Congolese nationality and should therefore refrain from commenting on Zambian affairs.
The lawyers say Mr Mukoka has refuted the allegations in their entirety, adding that anyone with information suggesting that a crime has been committed should use legally provided channels to present such matters before the relevant authorities.
They have also demanded that Mr Simuuwe refrain from making statements concerning Mr Jackson Mutyoka, saying the matter is before the courts and that any information of evidential value should be presented to the relevant authorities.
The lawyers have given Mr Simuuwe 48 hours from receipt of the letter to withdraw the article, stop further publication or circulation of the allegations, publicly retract the disputed claims and communicate the correction to persons and platforms to whom the allegations were allegedly supplied or repeated.
They have further demanded that Mr Simuuwe refrain from commentary that could prejudice the pending Mutyoka proceedings and stop involving members of Mr Mukoka’s family in what the lawyers describe as grievances related to their client’s political views.
The lawyers have warned that failure to comply with the demands could result in Mr Mukoka pursuing available legal remedies.
