CHRIS KAUKEMUA
The High Court has ordered Charles Mubita to pay N$158 000 in legal costs after his defamation lawsuit against Reinhold Shipwikeni failed.
Mubita is a Swapo politician and a member of parliament.
He is also the deputy minister of defence and veterans affairs.
The amount was confirmed during a court hearing on 8 December 2025, when the judge reviewed the defendant’s legal bill to determine how much Mubita should pay.
A court report shows the legal team initially submitted a bill of N$147 000.
After reviewing the charges, the court removed N$19 000 from the claimed amount.
Administrative costs for preparing the bill and attending the hearing, as well as VAT, were then added.
This brought the amount to N$158 000.
The review followed a judgement delivered on 14 February last year.
The matter had been formally scheduled for the cost hearing on 21 November last year.
This ruling means Mubita is responsible for paying the defendant’s legal costs, following his unsuccessful defamation claim.
