A 32-year-old woman of Kamanga, Kasonde Chewe, has dragged her colleague to the Chelstone Local Court after allegedly being publicly humiliated and defamed during a dispute over their shared shop.
Chewe has sued Isaac Nijere (26) for defamation of character, telling the court that he accused her of being a prostitute and suffering from syphilis, claims she says have seriously damaged her reputation—especially as a church leader.
Appearing before Magistrate Charity Milambo, Chewe explained that the dispute arose after she locked their shared shop, leaving Nijere without access for a day. The two operate from the same rented space, where Chewe plaits hair while Nijere specializes in twisting braids.
According to her testimony, Nijere allegedly made the accusations in public, causing embarrassment and humiliation in front of customers and passersby. Chewe told the court that the remarks not only hurt her business but also stained her standing in the community and church.
She emphasized that the statements were false, malicious, and intended to demean her, prompting her to seek legal redress to clear her name and restore her dignity.
The matter is still before the court.
