ATTORNEY General Mumba Malila has described as “wild and disturbing” assertions by the Law Association of Zambia that immigration officers’ decision to stop former President Rupiah Banda from travelling to South Africa was illegal and bordered on contempt of court.
Last Friday, Mr Banda was blocked from leaving the country by immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka as Minister of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu maintained that the former President may tamper with “evidence” and “witnesses” abroad.
And Mr Malila said in an interview yesterday that LAZ should have consulted his office or any other relevant authority before rushing to issue a “wild and disturbing” statement.
“It clearly shows that they did not research properly. They should have asked us what was happening,” Mr Malila said of LAZ.
He said if LAZ cared to consult, they could have realised that the court order to release Mr Banda’s passport to enable him travel and the reasons advanced by the State to block Mr Banda’s trip, are two different issues.
Mr Malila said law enforcement agencies are still investigating Mr Banda on other cases apart from those he is appearing in court for, hence his travel could have been prejudicial to on-going investigations.
“So, the reasons advanced by the investigations team not to allow Mr Banda to travel have nothing to do with the court order. There is no relation between the two issues,” Mr Malila said.
Awe ili lyashi lwanya
This guy was mistreated and fired by RB,zabwino palibe for RB.The saying” you reap what you sow”.
Well said boss-ano. My question is why is Mr Banda so desperate to travel to functions which in all honesty d not benefit the nation but his last position of president. Which unfortunate does not help the country or put food on the table for the masses.
RB should just shame the government by waiting for the law to take its course and have his name cleared. This desperation to travel is a smoking gun in my opinion.
The man is scared period !!!!
why contact you first before issuing a press statement? so that you corrupt them with black evelop??
you statement clearly shows that you have no idea why he was invited to that function in the first place, if the whole world can see what good RB did during his time he ruled this country why then are we trying to make him look bad? zambia benefits in alot of ways if anything he can help zambia in ways that sata cant even start of think of while sata is busy driving this country to the ground its people like RB who can turn the image of zambia around
He is not so desparate to travel. He is being invited. So the question should why so many prestigious organisations keep inviting him.
md you are re-writing history-what good did RB do except to his children? You forget that donors had stopped funding govt because of corruption,you forget how he engineered ftj aquital ,you forget his attempt at deporting bishop Patrick duffy and father miha you forget zamtel saga and how he sold all of govt stake in kansanshi mine allowing fqm to own it 100%. RB is a thug who must be locked up and the keys thrown away
RB does not even know the cases they are investigating him on.How does he interfere with witnesses whom he does not even know?One thing for sure is that with the development in technology,you do not need to travel to Japan to order or buy a motor vehicle.This you can do while seated in the comfort of your living room.RB does not need to travel to contact any witness if he so wished.
Sata and KK are always globe trotting. What benefits is it bringing to the country? At least RB’s travels are working well for Zambia’s image internationally.
One problem with syncomphants is their penchance for exaggeration. One university out of 9,000 in the world acknowledges Rupiah from their own jaundiced viewpoint and they claim the whole world can see what good he did. What good? I really want to see him defend himself in court. He disrespected Zambian law by misusing state finances and that should never be tolerated. Thats why I also dont support immigration officers disobeying the law. Let the thieving ex president flee if he wants we can always get him.
A Malila are you ok in the head? As an officer of the court you should know about the presumption of innocence. You are meant to advise your Boss and the public properly not like this nonsense.
When a person is being investigated, they are not guilty and sentenced. No matter where you claim the crimes may have been committed the FP is free till a court decides otherwise.
Not a kangaroo court nor the Post Newspaper court nor the pf court.
You have reduced the judiciary to a ridiculous institution perceived by people as one for sale not the national adjudicator and biased. Shame on you Malila
RB is being invited by eminent organization’s. It is necessary for him to travel. Zambia is too porous, if RB had wanted to escape he can easily do so.
He is information the PF Goons about his invitations and some coming through the PF govt., itself. RB is not a flight risk. It is the imagination of PF and it is PF giving him those ideas not himself.
he was invited for a one day meeting and on that day the useless GJIT did not need him. So why were they scared??????
It is now beyond our understanding. LAZ vs AG. We will let others blog, otherwise. Let Banda Just wait for his faith to come. His is in manigi trouble. So, a friend to Banda a president will also prosecute these Guys. Drama PaZED. Only soft person can cut this spirit of prosecutions of former leaders. Those who aspiring, do not touch anything be like Queens or Kings and let the prime minister do all the Jobs. Just the Secreatry General and prime Minister, no vice president.
why is it so important that he travels. since charity begins at home RB should offer his lectures at UNZA, CBU, Cavendish etc and let those who want to hear follow him here
Chiefs are the true custodians of the land and interests of the people. Let our paramount chiefs rotate as heads of state, politicians can then serve at prime minister level to run Government and be truly answerable to the people.
@mwebantu
And you see him being allowed to lecture at home and give his honest opinion on the current state of affairs?
Even educated people like Malila are compromised with money; Zambia has not hope. The man was cleared to go for only 4 days and you disregard the court order. If you raised other issues, then why didn’t you arrest him and charge him with these issues at the airport? Charge the guy if you have other issues on him or let him enjoy his freedom of movement
What nonsense!
Why is Malila telling us this? Shouldn’t he have told the judge who could have then come to a different conclusion. It’s quite clear that Rupiah is just being persecuted and the Executive has no respect for the rule of law. I weep for Zambia.
If he can allow/advise his son not to co-operate with authorities investigating allegations against him , don’t you think he would run at the first opportunity or interfere with investigations? This is the issue . He is an old man who should be wise and not panic like a child would. Let him not seek unnecessary publicity to get sympathy, he should just let the wheels of justice turn and if he is as innocent as he claims the courts will rule in his favour and he will be free to travel where he pleases. He is suffering from his indiscretions whilst in power. There is a lesson in there somewhere for all those in offices of influence .One day you will be out of there and therefore learn to deal with all matters above board.
iwe Liberal,the wheels of justices have been punched a long time ago by PF.
@Liberal, as an adult, RB can not drug his son back to Zambia. We can only speculate whether RB has or has not had discussions with his son. To conclude that the father and son are operating in tandem is not fair unless proven in the courts that the jointly committed the crime together.
@Mfumu
You are absolutely right. Henry is an adult and should be answerable separately from his father. They should be tried as separate cases FAIRLY, and if the other is involved in the crime, then cite them.
You can’t prosecute a father because of his adult son’s crime.
Mukongo obe.
PF are a law to themselves. Soon they will start killing people and fabricate stories to try and convince the public. The gates of hell are slowly opening.
What they have done is just the same!! AG is telling LAZ that he with held some information to the court that allowed RB to go. When was he above the courts to behave in this manner? Can LAZ discipline their member please or is he above both the Law and LAZ??
I think LAW was standing on firm ground in their statement, as they even quoted what the Judge had said in her ruling. They should not be looking for clearance from this chap – the court’s order was disregarded, period! These new investigations should have cited during the court arguments, to be taken into account when delivering judgement. Each case should be decided in it’s own merit. That is why the accused are discharged and properly arrested for a second offence; not being denied acquital on the first charge because there will be another case coming up – nonsense Malila!
Meant LAZ, was standing ……., sorry.
Ba Malila…iye tata
Malila takwata amano. Why wasTe tax payers money in arguing for yet knowing full well that they have other cases against RB.
Mr Malilia, are you telling us that your view is now law to go by? Is the court not in the right position to make laws through the decisions it takes on matters before it? In any case there was an inerparty hearing, did you also tell the court the reasons you are now telling us lay men?
Its important to be objective and be seen to objective in the manner one discharges duties of his office.
Is there anyone who is not compromised in the government echelons? It looks like everyone has taken leave of their integrity and intellect. Once fine legal minds seem to have lost the plot. I guess its the fear of what happened to one Sebastian Saizi Zulu that might visit them also if they didn’t tow the line. Remember, integrity like virginity, once lost its never regained.
oh please even you!
So there are other issues of investigations! I guess one could be that of the hiding son in SA or are there many more undisclosed cases still? But LAZ also, you go to the ant hill shouting and making us believe you telling the truth and yet you have half truth! Just like that judge who ruled that the suspect could go with his surety chola boy, I wonder why a suspect could go away with his surety (and leave behind no surety). Suppose they both do not come back? That was a porous court ruling! Wait wait wait Mambala. Not even Armstwist who is now spreading false news to French speaking African countries will save the situation. What a legal expert who keep commenting on issues before courts. Lets wait and see the final outcome of this Mambala conundrum.
This guy is a big fool, you are destroying the country, you are not forth coming
you seem like a big liar , just tell us the truth instead of hiding behind national
security because the truth always comes out, and people know when something
smells fishy
More PF BUFI!
Mumba Malila, what are you yapping about?. Just keep quite and enjoy while it lasts.You sold your soul to the devil a long time ago. An order of court is just that.
I am sure the A G knows what he is doing. I do not expect a man of his standing and with the backing and counsel from other counsels can just disregards the court. He sure has valid reasons. He is a mart man, and that is why he is attorney General. Let us see how this turns out.
He is AG because he licked Satas a**
SUPPOSED RB WAS FOUND WITH GOVERNMENT TROPHY, SAY STOLEN IVORY AT THE AIPORT ENROUTE TO SA. CAN WE SAY THAT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARE DISOBEYING A COURT ORDER AND ARE PROMOTING LAWLESSNESS IF THEY DECIDE TO PREVENT HIM FROM FLYING TO SA?
OR DID THE COURT ORDER THAT UNDER WHASOEVER CIRCUMSTANCES, RB MUST NOT BE PREVENTED FROM TRAVELLING TO SA?
Ba Malila without any shame imwe sure?? Ataa baane!! PF is Law now PERIOD. They can beat pipo in church, change court order and kip Chikopa at their own will. Dont talk about subsidies… By the time pipo will open their eyes PF would have been a full dictatorship rule… Thats why Komboni pipo have caused us this hell
@EX ZIT .TRY TO OPEN YOUR EYES A BIT WIDER. AND YOU WILL SEE THAT YOUR REASONING HOLDS NO WATER. HOW MANY TIMES DID WILLIAM BANDA ORGANISE THUGS TO BEAT UP PEOPLE? RB FREED FTJ FRAUDULENTLY. RB REMOVED THE ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL TO FACILITATE THIEVING BY HIS GOVERNMENT. HE WAS A LAW TO HIMSELF. SATA WANTS TO BRING SANITY TO THE SITUATION AND YOU ARE THERE CRYING OVER FRIVOLITIES. IF SATA WAS A DICTATOR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN NO LT, ZWD AND ALL THESE MEDIA PLACES WHERE HE IS INSULTED EVERYDAY. ZAMBIA HAS MORE THAN 50 REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH CAN NEVER HAPPEN IN A DICTATORSHIP. AND YOU ARE THERE BLAH…, BLAH…, BLAH…
I don’t get this. So RB is being punished for alledged crimes which he has not even been charged with as yet?
What chance then has he got of getting fair trial?
even a layman like myself can see clearly that there is something wrong here, very wrong.
“was illegal and bordered on contempt of court.”
It was not “bordering” on contempt of court!
IT WAS CONTEMPT OF COURT!
RB was invited to ‘talking shop’, ok that is true. Going away for 4 days and you decide to take your wife with you? He gave the game away too easily, he was going to surely going to leg it!
There was a time when one looked with hope to vibrant LAZ. These recent editions seem to be behaving like headless chickens.
Their is a lot of confusion in this country because even the Attorney General himself sounds confused himself.
Government should not act arbitrarily when it comes to fundamental freedoms. Its being mediocre to now claim that) was barred from travelling over secrete investigations into secrete things which no one knows anything about save government.
The executive should simply have obeyed the court order. Otherwise they are now undermining the judiciary and setting a very bad precedent.
Malila is now reasoning like a child. RB does not need to travel to contact people in South Africa or to temper with investigations as you would want to believe in your confused head . Have you forgotten that Zuma is his very good friend?
You are undermining the Judiciary!
Their is a lot of confusion in this country. Even the Attorney General, who is supposed to be sober and properly advise government, sounds confused.
Government should not act arbitrarily when it comes to fundamental freedoms. Its being mediocre to now claim that RB was barred from travelling over secrete investigations into secrete things which no one knows anything about save government. Where do you place the rules of natural justice?
The executive should simply have obeyed the court order. Otherwise they are now undermining the judiciary and setting a very bad precedent.
Malila is now reasoning like a child. RB does not need to travel to contact people in South Africa or to temper with investigations as you would want to believe in your confused head . Have you forgotten that Zuma…
There is a lot of confusion in this country. Even the Attorney General, who is supposed to be sober and properly advise government, sounds confused.
Government should not act arbitrarily when it comes to fundamental freedoms. Its being mediocre to now claim that RB was barred from travelling over secrete investigations into secrete things which no one knows anything about save government. Where do you place the rules of natural justice?
The executive should simply have obeyed the court order. Otherwise they are now undermining the judiciary and setting a very bad precedent.
Malila is now reasoning like a child. RB does not need to travel to contact people in South Africa or to temper with investigations as you would want to believe in your confused head . Have you forgotten that Zuma…
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