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| Fugitive Zambian MP arrested in Zimbabwe - minister | Fugitive Zambian MP arrested in Zimbabwe - minister |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Emmanuel Banda denies the allegations of robbery | Emmanuel Banda denies the allegations of robbery |
| A fugitive Zambian lawmaker with a bounty on his head has been arrested in Zimbabwe, Zambian authorities have said. | A fugitive Zambian lawmaker with a bounty on his head has been arrested in Zimbabwe, Zambian authorities have said. |
| Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda, who was facing robbery charges, is accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court. | Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda, who was facing robbery charges, is accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court. |
| He is said to have escaped through a window at Chipata Central Hospital in Eastern Province where he had been admitted following his arrest and was being guarded by police and prison officers. | He is said to have escaped through a window at Chipata Central Hospital in Eastern Province where he had been admitted following his arrest and was being guarded by police and prison officers. |
| The police then issued a bounty of 2m Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000) for him. | The police then issued a bounty of 2m Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000) for him. |
| He denies the allegations of robbery. | He denies the allegations of robbery. |
| At a press conference on Wednesday, the Zambian minister for home affairs said the MP had been arrested earlier this week in Harare. | At a press conference on Wednesday, the Zambian minister for home affairs said the MP had been arrested earlier this week in Harare. |
| Jack Mwiimbu said the MP was arrested by Zimbabwean police at a flat he had been renting and would remain there pending extradition formalities. | Jack Mwiimbu said the MP was arrested by Zimbabwean police at a flat he had been renting and would remain there pending extradition formalities. |
| He said the government was keen to know who had facilitated the MP's escape as well as visits by his wife to Harare. | He said the government was keen to know who had facilitated the MP's escape as well as visits by his wife to Harare. |
| He thanked the Zimbabwean authorities for their co-operation. | He thanked the Zimbabwean authorities for their co-operation. |
| The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, condemned what he called an "emerging and worrying scenario". | |
| Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema that year. | Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema that year. |
| The PF spokesman, Emmanuel Mwamba, said what was happening was "an abduction" adding that the government should follow "internationally prescribed extradition protocols". | The PF spokesman, Emmanuel Mwamba, said what was happening was "an abduction" adding that the government should follow "internationally prescribed extradition protocols". |
| "We are urging the Zambian government that they should not join other African countries that are known to go other jurisdictions and pick and extract a citizen they are looking for for committing crimes," he told the BBC. | "We are urging the Zambian government that they should not join other African countries that are known to go other jurisdictions and pick and extract a citizen they are looking for for committing crimes," he told the BBC. |
| The BBC has asked the Zambian government for a response. | The BBC has asked the Zambian government for a response. |
| On Thursday, the Zambian police said that Interpol in Harare had confirmed that Banda was in their custody and had requested extradition documents. | |
| It noted that Banda had in a preliminary interview with Interpol denied the charges, "alleging he was being targeted due to his familial ties" with Lungu. This prompted a request for clarification on the charges, which Zambia provided. | |
| The Zambian police added that preparations to "finalise and transmit the required documents to [interpol in] Harare are currently underway" and further updates would be given in due course. | |
| In May this year, Banda had been reported missing in unclear circumstances. He resurfaced a day later, saying that he had been abducted. | In May this year, Banda had been reported missing in unclear circumstances. He resurfaced a day later, saying that he had been abducted. |
| At least three opposition politicians and a civil rights activists were arrested following the case. | At least three opposition politicians and a civil rights activists were arrested following the case. |
| Two of those who were arrested - Edith Nawakwi, leader of the opposition Forum for Development and Democracy party, and civil rights activist Brebner Changala – accused the state of being behind the abductions. | Two of those who were arrested - Edith Nawakwi, leader of the opposition Forum for Development and Democracy party, and civil rights activist Brebner Changala – accused the state of being behind the abductions. |
| The home affairs ministry however denied the state’s involvement in the matter. | The home affairs ministry however denied the state’s involvement in the matter. |
| On social media there had been speculation that the abduction was staged, which was denied by Banda’s family. | On social media there had been speculation that the abduction was staged, which was denied by Banda’s family. |
| Banda was later arrested in June this year and charged with the non-bailable offence of aggravated robbery relating to the theft of property worth 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) in 2015. | Banda was later arrested in June this year and charged with the non-bailable offence of aggravated robbery relating to the theft of property worth 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) in 2015. |
| He faces additional charges of escaping from lawful custody. | He faces additional charges of escaping from lawful custody. |
| But Mr Mwamba told the BBC that the charges were "politically motivated". | But Mr Mwamba told the BBC that the charges were "politically motivated". |
| "Hon Jay Jay Banda is one of those members of parliament who are close to the former president, who this government is pursuing relentlessly." | "Hon Jay Jay Banda is one of those members of parliament who are close to the former president, who this government is pursuing relentlessly." |
| He said the case was from a decade ago and had been processed in court before, adding that the charges were meant to keep him from telling the truth about the abduction. | He said the case was from a decade ago and had been processed in court before, adding that the charges were meant to keep him from telling the truth about the abduction. |
| He said that at the time of his alleged escape, he had been admitted to hospital, because of a medical condition following his abduction. | He said that at the time of his alleged escape, he had been admitted to hospital, because of a medical condition following his abduction. |
| More Zambia stories from the BBC : | More Zambia stories from the BBC : |
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| Zambia ex-President Edgar Lungu banned from 'political' jogging | Zambia ex-President Edgar Lungu banned from 'political' jogging |
| The $5m cash and fake gold that no-one is claiming | The $5m cash and fake gold that no-one is claiming |
| Contaminated maize sparks fear in Zambia after 400 dogs die | Contaminated maize sparks fear in Zambia after 400 dogs die |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
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