By NATION REPORTER
SYLVIA Masebo has demanded a retraction of a letter from TFM Holdings (Pty) Ltd, the South African Company that has accused her of soliciting a bribe from it in the form of facilitation fees and motor vehicle.
Ms Masebo has threatened that unless TFM Holdings withdrew the letter which she has charged as being defamatory, she would have no option but to take legal action against the company for libel.
But TFM Holdings (Pty) Ltd has dismissed the threat insisting that Ms Masebo had demanded a bribe failure to which the contract would suffer.
In a letter of demand on Simeza, Sangwa law firm letterhead addressed to TFM Holdings (Pty) Ltd, chairman, Mcebisi Nlonzi, Ms Masebo is demanding a full and unqualified apology and withdrawal of the allegation, failure to which legal action would follow.
But in a twist of events, TFM Holdings (Pty) Ltd rubbished the letter stating that the law firm could not have authored the letter since the firm also represented them.
TFM Holdings instead circulate a letter allegedly signed by John Sangwa SC in which the company had engaged Simeza, Sangwa Associates as its lawyers, stating the letter which was circulated by Ms Masebo and not signed by the two lawyers and was was an act of treachery.
It circulated a letter of engagement allegedly signed by Mr Sangwa SC in which the law firm had tabulated its conditions for being engaged to provide counsel.
The letter from Simeza, Sangwa Associates captioned: “TFM Holdings (pty) Limited v The Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Health,” stated that it was pleased that the South African company had expressed interest to retain Simeza, Sangwa Associates (“the firm we or us”) as their legal counsel.
In the letter, the Zambian legal firm tabulated its conditions that included the scope of engagement, fees and expenses for legal work, preparation of all the documents necessary in support of TFM Holdings (pty) Limite’s claims against the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the provision of general advice relevant to the matter.
Attempts to seek clarification failed.
