MBABANE – Hope Restoration Church founder and general overseer, Mkhemetelo Muzi Mkhatjwa, popularly known as Elijah Fire, says the E500 000 he has been ordered to pay Apostle Justice Dlamini for defamation is excessive when compared to penalties imposed on established media outlets in similar cases.
Mkhatjwa argues that, since he is being sued in his personal capacity, a more reasonable amount would fall between E300 000 and E350 000. He pointed out that in other defamation cases involving major media houses, awards typically ranged from E120 000 to E350 000.
The clergyman further expressed concern that the court appeared to treat his financial capacity as equal to that of large organisations, despite him being a salaried employee of the King’s Office. He also clarified that he is a distinct individual from the church, which he believes the court is mistakenly conflating with him.
According to court documents filed by Mkhatjwa, the original defamation claim lodged by Apostle Dlamini amounted to E10 million. The claim was based on audio recordings in which Mkhatjwa allegedly accused Dlamini, founder of Worship Centre International, of bribing an Eswatini Observer journalist to publish defamatory articles against him. In another audio, he reportedly claimed that Dlamini’s domestic worker saw a snake with a human head and hair in the apostle’s home.
Mkhatjwa has now filed an application asking the court to suspend the E500 000 payment while awaiting the Supreme Court’s review of the appeal judgement. He is seeking to have the payment reduced to E300 000.
Dlamini opposes the review application. He is represented by Thulani Sibandze of SV Mdladla and Associates, while Mkhatjwa is represented by Meluleki Ndlangamandla of MLK Ndlangamandla Attorneys.
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