LAWYERS representing former republican President Rupiah Banda are pondering on the next action to take after government agencies refused to release his passport to enable him travel to Tanzania for a four-day meeting.
Deputy Administrative Assistant in the former Head of State’s office, Kennedy Limwanya said in an interview yesterday that Mr Banda’s team of lawyers were currently discussing the way forward following Mr Banda’s failure to secure the document despite a court ruling in his favour.
Government announced last week that it had cancelled the diplomatic passport for Mr Banda with immediate effect and directed all immigration entry and exit border controls not to endorse his diplomatic passport number D0011224.
Mr Banda sought permission from the Lusaka High Court for the release of his passport to enable him travel to attend the four-day Global 2013 Smart Partnership dialogue but government wings have not released the same despite the court order.
Mr Limwanya said efforts to secure the passport to enable Mr Banda travel for the dialogue that ends today failed.
He said that being the reason, Mr Banda’s lawyers were contemplating on the next step which would be known after the long holiday.
“The way forward is that his team of lawyers are discussing the way forward which we will be able to know after Tuesday. Mr Banda will not attend the partnership dialogue that ends tomorrow,” Mr Limwanya said.
This is the third time Mr Banda has been stopped from travelling out of the country, the other being when he attempted to leave for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu then announced that Mr Banda could not be allowed to travel out of the country because he was on a travel ban for fear that he would tamper with international witnesses in ongoing investigations against him.
Mr Banda is appearing in court facing charges of abuse of authority of office and being in possession of property suspected to have been proceeds of crime.
why can’t the courts or whoever in charge of banda’s cases speed up the alleged cases in courts of law. this would clear banda’s position and all these issue ‘ll come to an end. its now becoming embarrancing for both parties. we are getting tired of similar stories for one person. we need new issues that may be developmental. ha!
The problem with RB is that when we allow him to go out he will go to dine with one Amsterdam who in turn issues statements that are in bad taste with your own national integrity.
He will be telling you that you are useful iiddiioottss from Johanesburg through Amsterdam.
At this point one can start to be suspicious.why is the man so wanting to leave? Trying to gain peoples sympathy that he is being heal treated. The man was very pompus when was in power ..He used to fire his friends on public rallies..i used to support him but am begining to smell a rat rotten somewhere..
Indeed, it is “suspicious” that this government doesn’t follow the law. If not “pompous” as you say, then what do you call ignoring the courts?
The President and every other officer in government swore with Bible in hand (!) to uphold and defend the Constitution – i.e. the Laws of Zambia. Other than to share a few “light-hearted moments” what exactly do you think happens at all those swearing in ceremonies?
IT IS NOT WRONG TO ACT CONTRARY TO WHAT THE COURTS SAY AS LONG AS YOU ALSO HAVE A SOLID COUNTER-REASON THET IS EQUALLY LEGAL AND LEGALLY DEFENDABLE. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN RB HIS PASSPORT ARE WILLING AND READY TO GO TO COURT AND GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY. BABA THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF INTERPRETING THE LAW.
@ Chisenga, it is absolutely not OK to for anyone disobey the laws or the courts!
This is perfectly simple. Parliament makes the laws, the courts interpret the laws, and the executive implements the laws. No one is above the law and no one gets a free pass to do their own thing as you say. Frankly, what you support sounds a lot like dictatorship and is big part of what holds Zambia back from developing.
Not to mention, isn’t behaving above the law pretty much what the whole case against RB is (…at least supposed to be) all about in the first place?
its very clear that this man is guilty. he just needs to undergo a fast track court and stop all this which seems nonsence.
These politics of hate and revenge can cost zambia alot!! … take RB to court prove your case let the find him guilt and throw him in jail, its that simple!!…otherwise if the state has no case let him walk free!!
But it looks like these PF satanist are out for RB`s blood without finding him guilt!!!!!
As usual PF cadres without brains paroting on the site with free laptops from Statehouse. How can you ask questions like trying to leave?
RB is respected and is always invited ..all the events he wants to attend are public. For example one in Tanzania there were former leaders there like Jerry Rawlings, Joachim Chisano and and others and just because you have free laptop and free internet you want to mud the water.
You should be afraid and afraid indeed if you see the government disobeying court orders. Here is a court for a NAZI victim
TBC
tell those how invite him to stop forth with !
let them invite George Bush !
we can not allow this man to leave the country because his crimes are overseas !
NO opportunity for him to meet his crime partners.
RB was right to refuse his son to come and explain himself but the grz is wrong to refuse him,so you think!
The problem with you and your RB is that when we allow him to go out he will go to dine with one Amsterdam who in turn issues statements that in bad taste with your own national integrity.
Here is a quote from a NAZI Victim
” When they came for Polish people, I remained quiet because I was not Polish. When they came for Austrians, I remained quiet because I was not Austrian. When they came for Jews, I remained quiet because I was not Jewish. When they finally came for me, there was no one to speak for me ”
Think about those words, Government is breaking the law in victimising RB and you are busy rejoicing. When they are done with RB, they will move to the next parson and next and before you know, you will be next in the line and there will be no RB and others to speak in defence of you and there will be no law to even follow or respect. This is how serious this issue is. Government can’t be disobeying courts and PF cadres you celebrate. That is dangerous.
JOSEE he is innocent until he is found guilty, This your Government is being very petty and stupid at the same time, with the lame excuse of tampering with witness in this modern time of technology you don’t need to travel. The man has rights and he is simply exercising his rights on the other hand the government is not being straightforward why don’t they file something with the courts, besides don’t hate the man though he is not honored in his own country, he is adored outside, Sata needs to concentrate on the country pretty soon it will be 5years , promises need to be fulfiled
He has no passport so he has to apply for another one since the current one was revoked…just thinking
@john
who told you that he has no passport??.. the passopport is there?,, passports are never just revoked without procedure and reasons?????????!!!!,,, you PF baby vampire
What you must understand is that when a diplomatic passport is revoked by the State, it is incumbent upon the state to ensure an ordinary Passport is issued to the individual. In other words, they just strip you of the Diplomatic privileges
A GAME OF ARRESTING EACH OTHER?? ALL POLITICAL AND A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY. I THOUGH PF WOULD CHANGE AND BE A DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT. WE TRULY NEED REAL CHANGE IN ZAMBIA NOT THESE OLD FOX?? THEY HAVE WASTED OUR TIME AND HOPES TO MOVE ZAMBIA FORWARD. PF (POOR FINISHERS) ARE TRULY POOR IN THEIR STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIES.
RUPIAH BANDA must excuse himself from all future engagments that require him to travel abroad until his cases are deposed off. He doesn’t need the allowances from these trips as Zambians are already paying for his up keep.
Who told you that he is been invited for him to get allowances? Tell your Sata to be behave otherwise he will continue to be treated like a leper. Various Heads of SADC turned down the invitation to open the Zambia International Trade Fair. Sata is been boycotted and feeling jealousy of Rupiah Banda’s international stature!
Statesmen should be honorable and above reproach. To be hounded out of office and granted no peace thereafter says a lot about RB. If you are a genuine leader with best interests of the country at your heart, the presidency offers the best opportunity to right wrongs and plot a prosperous path for your beloved nation. But RB used his office to plunder the nation. To show how stupid he thinks Zambians are, he deliberately removed the abuse of office clause, effectively giving us the middle finger and saying watch me help myself to your money and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Where was he convicted of this plunder you are talking about? The only ones who are plundering the nation are Sata and Kaseba plus the cartel that is controlling them.
BaBarberian beni fye bwino.
RB will eventually face the courts of Law.
Those he wants to use as his associates have not stollen from their Governments like he did. Let ba RB SUBMIT, humble himself, and present a strong defence. If he will continue throwing dung at Boma using Disgraced international mercenary lawyer, he will find Grz very tough!
RESPECT FOR ELDERS / FORMER LEADERS?? WHAT SATA AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING WILL COME BACK TO THEM. EVEN A KID WOULD KNOW THAT ALL THESE ARE DIRECTIVES FROM STATE HOUSE JUST TO PUNISH RB? IT’S A SHAME THAT ZAMBIA IS STILL BEING RUN WITH BITTERNESS. PF HAVE FAILED THE PEOPLE AND WILL ALWAYS PUNISH THOSE WHO TELL THEM THE TRUTH. RB DON’T WORRY?? COBRA’s TIME WILL ALSO COME. NIPA ZAMBIA.
When the high court decided that RB be allowed to have the passport back, the govt. through its lawyers should have immediately challenged the decision with an immediate appeal/review. Simply refusing to abide with the order amounts to contempt. There are ways in which urgent cases such as this (when the man wants to travel) can be disposed of quickly – even in the judges chambers. Whether RB is entitled to the passport or not, is a question of law. There is the more serious matter here of govt. atrociously showing disregard for the separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and due process. If the courts can no longer guarantee your freedom from executive decisions that may be draconian, where do you run to? Exactly what ‘bootlicker’ is stating above. Any of you could be next.
but kwena ati MMD Chief Boot licker, were u in Zambia when so called RB was president? if u were there tell me if RB respected the rule of law. the same measure that u use to others so unto u, RB become a judge, RB become a lawyer if u don’t remember talk of FTJ , Dola and that minister called changwe if am not mistake bounced a cheque and she was not arrested but mpombo with the same case was thrown into cells. William Banda and the list is endless. so what as made u fit to attack the the mighty PF?
Enough with this RB stuff. RB should first support the Zambian rule of law by 1) getting his son Henry back to Zambia and 2) denouncing Amstadamn. He should start respecting Zambia and her government and apoligise for being a smart ass 1) for apologizing on behalf of Zambia to Bush thus disrespecting the sitting president, 2) parading opposition leaders in SA to blacklist Mother Zambia.
RB needs to start behaving like a former republican president. At the start of Sata’s presidency he respected RB and even involved him in national duties until he thought he was smarter than a 5th grader.
Sata is full of hate. But God will deal with him. Your judgement will be hear on earth. You will die in parts.
Could LAZ advise the way forward hear. Is there room for international Law to be part of this since its clear that there is no rule of Law now?.
Where are the army Generals?. This is a perfect chance for a military take over and bring the country to sanity after two years or so.
Zambians are petty. You don’t understand democracy and can’t see that rights are being eroded, while you foolishly applaud.
This argument about RB firstly needing to adhere to the rule of law or that he never did so when he was in power, is a diversion and lacks principle. So each successive govt. should show utter disregard for the law on the assumption that RB did the same? Assuming it were true – is it not one of the reasons you change govt for? – to start behaving responsibly and according to the dictates of the law? Is it not to avoid anarchy and ensure the rights and freedoms of every citizen? By the way, RB is on trial – he has not been convicted. Some bloggers seem to have ‘massive’ evidence against him. Why don’t they present themselves as witnesses? If you don’t have evidence about the merits of the case, at least argue on whether due process is being observed here. Process is part of justice.
“Nivimambala” now it is him ,,,,Nichimambala……
Autocratic despot tinpot dictator vampir hyena vicious dog brutal cadre law of the jungle to be tossed out of power like garbage 2016.
There is need for the two leaders (Sata and Banda) to sit and discuss this situation amicably and find a lasting solution to it. There is nothing to be gained by dragging each other’s names in the mad in full view of both the local and international spectators. We as a nation also need to start respecting our former leaders. There is nothing to be gained by locking them up. Lets learn from our neighbours who don’t persecute their former leaders or the ones that don’t want to leave power after they lose an election
A PIECE OF ADVISE: a) Looking at the recognition that RB receives from the international community, GRZ should actually value him a its asset and not a burden.He can be very instrumental in pushing the Zambian agenda at such forums.b).Lets ask ourselves this question. What is the main problem between RB and the MCS government? c). Let us encourage forgiveness and unity of purpose whenever the Zambian agenda matters.
I have a problem with an arm of govt disobeying court orders. We may be heading for a lawless society a situation that is scaring.