A Zambian lawmaker who had a bounty on his head has been arrested in Zimbabwe, Zambian authorities mentioned.
Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who faces theft costs, is accused of escaping from jail in August whereas awaiting a courtroom look.
He’s mentioned to have escaped by a window of the Central Hospital in Chipata, Jap Province, and was taken to the hospital after his arrest, the place he was guarded by police and jail guards.
Police subsequently provided a reward of two million Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000).
He denies the theft cost.
At a press convention on Wednesday, Zambia’s inside minister mentioned the lawmaker was arrested in Harare earlier this week.
Jack Mwembu mentioned the MP was arrested by Zimbabwean police at an condominium he rented and would stay there pending extradition proceedings.
He mentioned the federal government was eager to know who helped the MP escape and his spouse go to Harare.
He thanked the Zimbabwean authorities for his or her cooperation.
The opposition Patriotic Entrance (PF), led by former president Edgar Lungu, condemned what he referred to as a “worrying state of affairs that’s rising”.
Banda has been an unbiased MP since 2021 and has beforehand been linked to Lungu, who misplaced the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema that yr.
RPF spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba mentioned what occurred was a “kidnapping”, including that the federal government ought to observe “internationally mandated extradition protocols”.
He advised the BBC: “We urge the Zambian authorities to not be part of the ranks of different African international locations that go to different jurisdictions to pick and take away the prison residents they’re in search of.”
The BBC has requested the Zambian authorities to reply.
On Thursday, Zambian police mentioned Interpol in Harare had confirmed Banda was of their custody and had requested extradition paperwork.
The report states that Banda denied the allegations throughout a preliminary interview with Interpol, “claiming that he was focused due to his household relationship with Lungu.” This prompted Zambia to demand clarification on the allegations.
The Zambian Police added that it was ready to “finalize and transmit the required paperwork to [interpol in] That is presently underway in Harare” and additional updates will probably be offered sooner or later.
In Might this yr, Banda was reported lacking beneath unknown circumstances. He reappeared a day later and mentioned he had been kidnapped.
A minimum of three opposition politicians and a civil rights activist have been arrested following the case.
Two of these arrested – opposition Discussion board for Improvement and Democracy chief Edith Nawakwi and civil rights activist Brebner Changala – blamed the federal government for the kidnapping The mastermind.
Nonetheless, the inside ministry denied authorities involvement.
There was hypothesis on social media that the kidnapping was staged, however Banda’s household denied this.
Banda was later arrested in June this yr and charged with a non-bailable offense of aggravated theft in reference to the theft of property price 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) in 2015.
He additionally faces an extra cost of escaping from lawful custody.
However Mr Mwamba advised the BBC the costs have been “politically motivated”.
“The Honorable Jay Jay Banda is likely one of the MPs near the previous president and he’s being pursued relentlessly by this administration.”
He mentioned the case was from ten years in the past and had been heard in courtroom earlier than, including that the costs have been an try to forestall him from telling the reality in regards to the kidnapping.
He mentioned that when he allegedly escaped, he was admitted to hospital attributable to his well being situation following his kidnapping.
