Emmanuel Banda: Fugitive Zambian MP arrested in Zimbabwe

A Zambian lawmaker on the run with a bounty on his head has been captured in Zimbabwe, Zambian authorities say.

Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who is facing robbery charges, allegedly escaped custody in August while waiting to appear in court.

He is believed to have escaped through a window at Chipata Central Hospital in the Eastern Province, where he was admitted after his arrest and is being guarded by police and prison staff.

Police later offered a reward of 2 million Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000) for him.

He denies the robbery charge.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Zambia’s Interior Minister said the MP was arrested earlier this week in Harare.

Jack Mwiimbu said the congressman was arrested by Zimbabwean police at an apartment he rented and will remain there awaiting extradition proceedings.

He said the government was keen to know who facilitated the MP’s escape as well as his wife’s visit to Harare.

He thanked the Zimbabwean authorities for their cooperation.

The opposition PF party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, condemned what he called the “emerging and worrying scenario”.

Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously linked to Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema that year.

PF spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said what was happening was “a kidnapping” and added that the government should follow “internationally prescribed extradition protocols”.

He told the BBC: “We are calling on the Zambian government not to join other African countries that are known to go to other jurisdictions to pick up and deport a national they are looking for. earned for committing a crime”.

The BBC has asked the Zambian government for a response.

In May this year, Banda was reported missing under unclear circumstances. A day later he reappeared and said he had been kidnapped.

At least three opposition politicians and one civil rights activist were arrested following the case.

Two of those arrested – Edith Nawakwi, leader of the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development party, and civil rights activist Brebner Changala – accused the government of being behind the kidnapping.

However, the Ministry of Interior denied state involvement in this matter.

There were rumors on social media that the kidnapping was staged, but Banda’s family denied it.

Banda was later arrested in June this year and charged with robbing property worth 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) in 2015.

He faces an additional charge of escape from lawful custody.

But Mr Mwamba told the BBC the accusation was “politically motivated”.

“Hon Jay Jay Banda is one of the members of parliament close to the former president, whom this government is relentlessly pursuing.”

He said the incident happened a decade ago and had been dealt with in court before, adding that the charges were intended to prevent him from telling the truth about the kidnapping.

He said that at the time of his alleged escape, he had been admitted to the hospital because of his health condition following the kidnapping.