Hot FM Sues Chellah Tukuta for defamation claiming K20 million damages

18 Views Hot FM chairman Oscar Chavula has sued photographer Cornelius Mulenga Chellah Tukuta, also known as “Chellah Tukuta for defamation over a Facebook post that accused Mr. Chavula of promoting terrorism. According to a statement of claim filed before the High Court today, both Mr. Chavula and Hot FM Limited, seeks up to 20 […]

18 Views

Oscar Chavula

Chellah Tukuta

Hot FM chairman Oscar Chavula has sued photographer Cornelius Mulenga Chellah Tukuta, also known as “Chellah Tukuta for defamation over a Facebook post that accused Mr. Chavula of promoting terrorism.

According to a statement of claim filed before the High Court today, both Mr. Chavula and Hot FM Limited, seeks up to 20 millio in damages, plus interest and costs. The claim arises from an Aug. 28 post on Mr. Tukuta’s public Facebook page, “Chellah Tukuta Studios,” in which he wrote that radio stations in Rwanda had promoted genocide and acted “just like Chavula promoted terrorists in Zambia,” the court documents state. The post, which was accompanied by a prominent photograph of Mr. Chavula, attracted at least 465 reactions, four shares, and numerous comments, according to the statement of claim. One commenter, Harrison Mumba, addressed Mr. Chavula by name and referred to his professionalism and work, confirming that at least one member of the audience understood the post to refer to him. The plaintiffs allege that the words, in their natural and ordinary meaning, conveyed that Mr. Chavula had “promoted terrorists and/or terrorism in Zambia,” had “supported, encouraged, facilitated or provided a platform for terrorists or terrorist activity,” and that his conduct was “comparable in character or seriousness” to that of radio stations accused of promoting genocide in Rwanda. Because Mr. Chavula is publicly known as a director, shareholder, and chairman of Hot FM—a fact that had been publicised in multiple reports, including a 2017 Mwebantu article identifying him as the station’s chief operating officer and co-founder, and a 2025 News Diggers report naming him as chairman during the station’s 20th-anniversary celebration, Hot FM and Mr. Chavula contend that readers understood the words to refer also to the radio station itself. The statement of claim further alleges that the publication injured Hot FM’s reputation, goodwill, and commercial standing among listeners, advertisers, commercial partners, employees, regulators, and other stakeholders. The plaintiffs are seeking aggravated damages, citing what they describe as the “exceptional gravity and inflammatory character” of associating them with terrorists or terrorism, the defendant’s use of emphatic language including the capitalized word “TERRORISM,” and the absence of any reasonable factual basis for the allegations. Hot FM and Mr Chavula, sent a demand letter to Mr. Tukuta by WhatsApp on Aug. 31, 2026, requesting removal of the post, a retraction, a public apology, and an undertaking not to repeat the allegations. The statement of claim alleges that Mr. Tukuta failed to acknowledge receipt and has failed, refused or neglected to provide the retraction, apology or undertaking sought. The plaintiffs also point to a further post published by Mr. Tukuta on or about Aug. 31, in which he reportedly wrote that he was ready for Mr. Chavula, which statement the plaintiffs claim aggravates the injury and evidences an intention to persist in the dispute. The claim against Hot FM is brought both as libel by innuendo and, alternatively, as malicious falsehood under Zambia’s Defamation Act, which allows claims for pecuniary damage to a trade or business without requiring proof of special damage. The plaintiffs are seeking general damages for libel, aggravated damages, a permanent injunction restraining Mr. Tukuta from publishing similar allegations, and a mandatory injunction requiring him to remove any offending publication still under his control. The Hot FM and Mr Chavula are represented by Mandela and Partners Legal Practitioners – EMV.