Zambia Police is asking the general public to help them find the son of former President Rupiah Banda, Henry, whom they need for urgent questioning. In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, acting police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that “call outs” or “orders” have been issued for Henry through his representatives but he has not responded to them by reporting to police, as required by the law.

“We are appealing to members of the public who may know the whereabouts of Henry to come forth and tell us where he is,” Mr Hamoonga said.

The police spokesperson also confirmed that Henry has already appeared “once before police” for questioning but declined to explain why the police were interested in the former President’s son saying any disclosure could “jeorpadise” investigations.

Mr Hamoonga said the search for Henry has been going on for a while now, without much success. “I cannot give you any further details because it will jeopardise the probe. We don’t want to cause alarm,” Mr Hamoonga said.

Mr Hamoonga said the police will take “further action” if Henry does not hand himself over to the police sooner than later. The action was not specified.

Initially, Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota had been handed Henry’s summons after officers failed to find him but Mr Sikota told the newspaper: “Henry Banda is not my client…I don’t know how the police made this mistake but I will try and see if I can give the call-out to someone who may know where to take it…I have not been able to find him myself because he is not my client.”

Henry’s name has been popping up every time RP Capital – the company single-sourced to evaluate Zamtel assets – has been raised alleging that himself and Petauke member of Parliament Dora Siliya “engineered” the US$2.5million transaction.

Facts remain vague but newspaper reports in the past further suggested that Mr Banda and the outspoken Petauke legislator could have “illegally” put the deal together.

Zambia Daily Mail efforts to reach Henry failed yesterday but sources suggested that the former President’s son could have relocated to South Africa after his father lost office to President Michael Sata.

Home Affairs Minister Kennedy Sakeni, when reached via phone yesterday, said: “I think I would rather leave this issue (of Henry) at this stage in the hands of the police…if I comment, it may appear as if I am interfering. The police must explain what has happened, not me as Minister of Home Affairs.”

Although his public profile was not as high as that of his older brother, James, during his father’s administration, Henry is reputed by those close to him such as friends and admirers as the “business architect” of the former first family who could have tied together, among others, the RP Capital deal.

Transparency International Zambia president Reuben Lifuka in an interview yesterday told the Daily Mail: “Henry must immediately report to police and answer charges and clear his name instead of staying away because that can be misinterpreted to mean a lot of things.”

Mr Lifuka said being summoned to police does not mean: “You are guilty at all. It simply means police need help with investigations and staying away just frustrates investigations in my view. It can also compel police to take extreme measures.”

Police have not stated what the next step will be but lawyers interviewed by the Daily Mail suggested that a warrant of arrest could be issued with Henry’s name on it if the absence persists without a legally acceptable explanation.

President Sata has embarked on a corruption fight which he says will not spare friends, relatives or members of his own Government as he tries to create jobs and fight poverty.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

POLICE have reprimanded MMD Lusaka Province chairperson, William Banda and eight other cadres who were last week warned and cautioned for unlawful assembly.

Lusaka Province police chief, Charity Katanga said Mr Banda and other MMD cadres had been given the benefit of doubt and reprimanded for their action.

Ms Katanga said in an interview that Mr Banda had assured the police that he would abide by the law next time he intends to hold a meeting.

On Wednesday last week, police warned and cautioned Mr Banda and eight other MMD cadres for unlawful assembly.

The cadres and their lawyer were summoned to Lusaka Central Police Station on Wednesday this week where they were given the last warning.

“This was the first step and we warned them that any political gathering in a public place should be made known to the police in accordance with the Public Order Act,” she said.

According to the Public Order Act, a public place is not only an open space but included buildings where people gathered such as restaurants.

Mr Banda and the cadres were rounded up and bundled into four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles.

More than 10 other cadres scampered when police raided a restaurant in Woodlands area where the meeting was taking place between 11.00 and 13.00 hours.

Ms Katanga said police should be notified when political players wanted to hold public meetings so that they could provide security.

[Times of Zambia]

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has expressed confidence that the team he has constituted to run the Justice Ministry is formidable enough to ensure an effective justice delivery system in Zambia.

Speaking shortly after swearing in former Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye as new Solicitor General at State House in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Sata said the combination of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito, Mr Mwenye and Attorney General Mumba Malila was the best team for Zambia.

The president said it was clear that colossal sums of money obtained corruptly was still held by some people.

He said the office of the DPP, Attorney General, Solicitor General and the minister of Justice must combat corruption and other vices with determination.

Mr Sata asked Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu and acting Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti to make Mr Nchito available to take oath for them to start work as quickly as possible.

He said the justice system in the country had collapsed.

“This is the first time we are having a very strong team at the Ministry of Justice.

“As you start work, look at the conditions of the legal aid system because poor people don’t know what legal representation is,” Mr Sata said.

He said having stayed in prison for 40 days, he learnt that the country had massive challenges including lack of an effective legal aid system to benefit poor people.

Mr Zulu said Mr Nchito was out of the country.

Mrs Mwaba Kasese Bota was sworn in as Zambian permanent representative to the United Nations while former Works and Supply Permanent Secretary lieutenant-colonel Bizwayo Nkunika was sworn in as Zambia High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Former Siavonga MP Fredrick Hapunda was sworn in as Zambian ambassador to Russia.

Others sworn in were Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chabota Nkunika and Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Charles Kapembwa while former United Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president, Francis Simenda was sworn in as Zambian ambassador to Ethiopia.

The rest are Mr Ng’ona Mwelwa Chibesakunda (Japan), former deputy secretary to the Cabinet Robert Mataka (Botswana) Muyoba Chikonde (South Africa) and Wendy Sinkala (Namibia).

And Mr Sata said some countries had lost confidence in Zambia because former representatives such as Dr Nevers Mumba who returned from Canada recently left some activities that dented the image of Zambia.

The new Government struggled to receive clearance to send new representatives.

[Times of Zambia]

Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has instituted contempt proceedings against the Times of Zambia Newspaper for a story carried in yesterday’s edition of the newspaper on court proceedings.

This is in a case in which former Mines minister Maxwell Mwale is charged with one count of failing to account for 261 bicycles reasonably suspected to have been stolen.

This came after Mwale’s lawyers Sakwiba Sikota and Sunday Nkonde requested for an explanation from Times of Zambia management over the story in question alleging that its contents misrepresented the facts before the court of law.

Testifying before magistrate Banda,as to why she should not be cited for contempt of court, Delphine Hampande a senior reporter and author of the story in question maintained that her story reflected the facts as presented before the court and that its publication was subject to editing by her superiors.

And Times of Zambia Managing Director and Editor-in-chief Godfrey Malama told the court that it’s his responsibility to sanction articles for publication and that the veracity of the information in the article in question is primarily the onus of the author since the individual reporter physically attends court proceedings.

And Magistrate Banda said in light of the submissions from the Times of Zambia employees, the court will commence contempt proceedings against the Newspaper and the matter comes up on 10th January, 2012.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Banda has dismissed an application by former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale’s lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to have issues relating to the conduct of investigative wings in the former minister’s case be referred to the High Court for determination.

The matter has been adjourned to Saturday 31st December 2011 for continued trial.

QFM