A Zambian lawmaker who had been on the run, facing robbery charges, has been apprehended in Zimbabwe, according to Zambian officials. Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who was accused of escaping custody in August, had been awaiting court proceedings when he allegedly fled from Chipata Central Hospital in Eastern Province, where he was being guarded by police and prison officers.
Banda, who denies the robbery allegations, reportedly escaped through a hospital window, prompting the Zambian authorities to offer a reward of 2 million kwacha ($72,000; £57,000) for information leading to his capture.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Zambian Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu confirmed that Banda had been arrested earlier in the week in Harare, Zimbabwe. The MP was found at a rented flat and is set to remain in Zimbabwe while extradition procedures are carried out. Mwiimbu also emphasized the government’s interest in investigating who facilitated Banda’s escape and his wife’s visits to Harare.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), led by former President Edgar Lungu, condemned the situation, with PF spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba describing Banda’s arrest as an “abduction” and calling for the Zambian government to follow “internationally prescribed extradition protocols.”
Banda, an independent MP since 2021, had previously been linked to Lungu’s administration before the president lost power to Hakainde Hichilema that year. Earlier in May, Banda had been reported missing under mysterious circumstances, later claiming he had been abducted. The case led to the arrest of several opposition figures and activists, with accusations that the government was involved, though authorities denied this.
In June, Banda was formally charged with aggravated robbery relating to a 2015 incident involving stolen property worth 12,000 kwacha ($430; £340) and later faced charges for escaping custody. His supporters, including Mwamba, argue that the charges are politically motivated, intended to silence Banda and prevent him from speaking out about his alleged abduction.