A Zambian Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Jay Banda, was arrested by Zimbabwean authorities after evading custody in Zambia earlier this year. Banda had escaped from Chipata General Hospital on August 4, 2024, where he was under police guard. At the time, he was facing serious charges, including aggravated robbery and attempted murder.
After being on the run for over three months, Banda was apprehended in Zimbabwe on November 19, 2024. The Zambian government had offered a reward of two million Kwacha for information leading to his capture.
Banda, who represents Petauke Central as an Independent MP, had reportedly been renting a flat in Harare, Zimbabwe, after his escape. Zambian authorities had worked closely with Zimbabwean officials to track him down.
Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwiimbu, confirmed the arrest in a statement, thanking Zimbabwe for their assistance. Banda had been under police and correctional service guard while receiving medical treatment when he managed to flee, sparking a police investigation.
Banda, a former ally of ex-President Edgar Lungu, has been an MP since 2021. Earlier this year, opposition sources claimed that Banda had been found injured on the doorstep of a farmhouse, claiming to have been left there by unknown people. His lawyer, Sakwiba Sikota, also accused police of forcibly transferring him to a military hospital despite his family’s objections.
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