Emmanuel Banda denies the theft allegations [Emmanuel Banda/Facebook]
A fugitive Zambian lawmaker with a bounty on his head has been arrested in Zimbabwe, Zambian authorities said.
Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who was charged with theft, is accused of escaping from custody in August while waiting 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 after his arrest and was being guarded by police and prison staff.
Police then offered him a bounty of 2 million Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000).
He denies the theft allegations.
On Wednesday, Zambia’s interior minister said at a press conference that the MP had been arrested in Harare earlier this week.
Jack Mwiimbu said the MP had been arrested by Zimbabwean police at a flat he was renting and would remain there pending extradition formalities.
He said the government was keen to know who facilitated the MP’s escape and his wife’s visits to Harare.
He thanked the Zimbabwean authorities for their cooperation.
The opposition 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.
PF spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said what happened was “a kidnapping”, adding that the government should follow “internationally prescribed extradition protocols”.
“We urge the Zambian government not to join other African countries that are known to go to other jurisdictions and single out and extract a citizen they want for committing crimes,” he told the BBC.
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 resurfaced and said he had been kidnapped.
At least three opposition politicians and a civil rights activist were arrested in connection with the case.
Two of those 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 kidnappings.
However, the Interior Ministry denied state involvement in the case.
There was speculation on social media that the kidnapping was staged, which was denied by Banda’s family.
Banda was later arrested in June this year and charged with an offense of aggravated robbery in connection with the theft of property worth 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) in 2015.
He faces additional charges of escaping from lawful custody.
But Mwamba told the BBC the allegations were “politically motivated”.
“Hon Jay Jay Banda is one of those MPs close to the former President whom this government is relentlessly pursuing.”
He said the case was 10 years ago and had been heard in court before, adding that the charges were aimed at deterring him from telling the truth about the kidnapping.
He said that at the time of his alleged escape, he was hospitalized for a medical condition following his abduction.
More Zambia stories from the BBC:
[Getty Images/BBC]
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