For the appellant: The Attorney-General, the Hon. A.M. Silungwe, S.C., with him D.M. Zamchiya, State Advocate. For the respondent: A.P. Annfield, Peter Cobbett - Tribe & Co. Judgment DOYLE, C.J.: This is an appeal by the defendant against the amount of an assessment of damages by a High Court judge in an action taken for libel by the plaintiff against the defendant. The history of the matter, derived from the evidence and the published documents, is as follows. A Mr Liyoka, who is an ex - University student aged twenty-three and who also was an organiser for the United Progressive Party, defected from that party. He then proceeded in the presence of a district governor named Ntabo to make to ZANA a number of allegations against members of the UPP. These included allegations of treason and subversion against the plaintiff who was then the president of that party. It is these allegations which are the subject of this action. ZANA, which is a Government news agency, issued a Press release containing the libel. This was issued to the two daily newspapers, Times of Zambia and Daily Mail, and also to the Government broadcasting and television services. The libels were published in both newspapers and from the broadcasting and television stations. The plaintiff demanded retraction and apology from all concerned. He received neither and in July, 1972, he issued separate writs against the Zambia Publishing Company Limited, owner of the Daily Mail and Times Newspapers Limited, owner of the Times of Zambia. No defence was entered to these writs and the plaintiff obtained judgment in