The Zambian government claims that the successful capture of Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda, a fugitive lawmaker from Petauke Central, in Harare yesterday demonstrates the close cooperation between Zambia and Zimbabwe, its neighbor and Zambezi sister.
Banda’s four-month legal evasion came to an end yesterday morning when Zimbabwean police located him at a Harare apartment he was renting and arrested him.
Before making a bold escape while undergoing treatment at Chipata General Hospital in August, the 39-year-old was charged with attempted m_rder and aggravated robbery.
Even a K2 million reward for Banda’s capture was issued by the Zambia Police Service. Banda was given a seven-day ultimatum by National Assembly Speaker Nelly Mutti yesterday to appear or risk losing his seat.
Barely a day after the parliamentary ultimatum, news emerged that Banda had been apprehended in Harare.
Confirming Banda’s capture, minster of Home Affairs and Internal Security minister Jack Mwiimbu told journalists that Zambia and Zimbabwe are enjoying good relations as seen by the apprehension of fugitive politician.
Mwiimbu said Zimbabwean authorities had been cooperating with the Zambian government throughout the issue of Banda, hence, the apprehension.
The minister revealed that government had been informed of Jay Jay’s whereabouts by Zimbabwean authorities, two weeks ago.
“Honourable Jay Jay Banda was arrested by Zimbabwean security wings in Zimbabwe after we made a request. It therefore shows that there’s cooperation between the Zimbabwean authorities and ourselves. Even Chishimba Kambwili was brought back to Zambia by the Zimbabwean authorities,” said Mwiimbu.
He said Banda is currently in the custody of Zimbabwean authorities as the Zambian government prepares for his extradition.
“This information was communicated to relevant Zimbabwean authorities who through their cooperation managed to apprehend Honourable Jay Jay Banda yesterday around 10 hours. He’s currently detained at a police station in Harare where he will remain until arrangements are made for his return to Zambia,” he said.
The minister expressed gratitude to the Zimbabwean government for apprehending the fugitive law maker.
He also assured the public promising that government will ensure that the MP is extradited without any security lapses.
“We will put all appropriate measures to ensure that his return to Zambia is smooth without any security lapses. This is not the first time we are dealing with such. He was residing in Zimbabwe just like an ordinary Zimbabwean.
We will have our brother very soon,” assured Mwiimbu.
In the meantime, Mwiimbu clarified that contrary to PF propaganda that Banda had surrendered himself to authorities in Zimbabwe in order to avoid losing his parliamentary seat, he was arrested by authorities before the ruling yesterday.
