A fugitive Zambian lawmaker has been arrested in Zimbabwe with a bounty on his head, Zambian authorities have said.
Emmanuel “JJ” Banda, who was facing robbery charges, is alleged to have escaped from custody in August while awaiting a court appearance.
He is said to have escaped through a window at Chapata Central Hospital in Eastern Province where he was admitted after his arrest and was being guarded by police and prison officers.
Police then issued a 2 million Zambian kwacha ($72,000; £57,000) reward for him.
He denies the robbery charges.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Zambia’s interior minister said the MP was arrested in Harare earlier this week.
Jack Muimbo said the MP was arrested by Zimbabwean police at a flat he was renting and would remain there pending extradition formalities.
He said the government wants to know who facilitated the MP’s escape and 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 it described as an “emerging and alarming scenario”.
Banda, who is an independent MP from 2021, was previously linked to Lingo, who lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema this year.
Emmanuel Mwamba, a PF spokesman, said what was happening was a “kidnapping”, adding that the government should follow “internationally agreed extradition protocols”.
“We are urging the Zambian government not to join other African countries known to go to other jurisdictions and single out citizens who commit crimes,” he told the BBC. Looking for.”
The BBC has sought a response from the Zambian government.
In May this year, Banda was reported missing under unclear circumstances. He reappeared a day later and said he had been kidnapped.
At least three opposition politicians and a civil rights activist were arrested after the trial.
Two of those arrested – opposition Forum for Development and Democracy party leader Edith Nwakwe and civil rights activist Brebner Chanala – blamed the state for the kidnapping.
However, the Home Ministry denied the state’s involvement in the matter.
There were speculations on social media that there had been an abduction, which the family of the man denied.
Banda was later arrested in June this year and charged with a non-bailable offense of aggravated robbery in connection with the theft of property worth 12,000 kocha ($430; £340) in 2015.
He faces additional charges of escaping lawful custody.
But Mr Muamba told the BBC the allegations were “politically motivated”.
“Hon Jay Jaybanda is one of the members of parliament who are close to the former president, who this government is pursuing relentlessly.”
He said the case dates back a decade and had already been processed in court, adding that the charges were aimed at preventing him from telling the truth about the abduction.
He said that at the time of his alleged escape, he was admitted to the hospital, as he was unwell after his abduction.
