Kudos to the High Court which, through judge Eileen Rakow, stopped politician Charles Mubita in his tracks for trying to use the courts to silence another party member from making public criticism.
Mubita sued fellow Swapo member Reinhold Shipwikineni for defamation, demanding N$370 000 after Shipwikineni said he was being used “like toilet paper” by people who wanted to advance themselves at the expense of the Swapo constitution.
The judge reminded Mubita that, as a politician he ought, to appreciate robust criticism.
Indeed, it’s become far too common for leaders and public figures with financial muscle to rush to court in order to silence criticism, especially that which is viewed as offensive and insulting.
Free speech is too important to shut down simply because a leader was insulted.
Well done to the courts for flushing away Mubita’s attempt like toilet paper.
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