Jay Jay ‘abduction’ in Zim botched

By NATION REPORTER

ATTEMPTS by the Zambia government to ‘abduct’ Emmanuel Jay Banda and have him extradited were on Tuesday botched after the Zimbabwe authorities intervened when he was reportedly apprehended from a gym in Harare, it has been disclosed.
Government operatives were deployed to Zimbabwe in search of Mr Banda, who in August this year mysteriously disappeared and was traced in Harare, where he was ambushed in a gym and instantaneously apprehended him.
Yesterday, Jack Mwiimbu, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security informed the nation that Mr Banda had been apprehended in Zimbabwe and was in police custody.
But sources from Harare have disclosed that Mr Banda, the Peteuke law maker was in fact not apprehended from a rented flat, but from a gym along with his trainer and were shackled with chains and handcuffed in the historical manner slaves were treated.
The sources from Zimbabwe said yesterday that Mr Banda was rescued from his yet another set of abductors with the aim of transporting him back to Zambia in the style they had done with Chishimba Kambwili when he was extradited from Zimbabwe after exiting Zambia illegally. “Jay Jay is safe in Zimbabwe. It is true that Jay Jay was abducted by Zambian State agents in Harare who had trailed him. He was found in a gym around 16 hours.
He was apprehended together with his trainer and chained and handcuffed. His trainer was to be set free and he is the one who informed the secret service in Zimbabwe that Jay Jay was about to be abducted and taken to Zambia.
The secret service moved at supersonic speed and rescued him (Mr Banda) from the Zambian State agents,” the sources said. The sources said the Zambian government had breached extradition protocols by entering Zimbabwe without informing the authorities in that country and attempt to apprehend a citizen who was enjoying United Nations (UN) refugee status and immunities.
“Jay Jay Banda should have been transported to Chirundu from where he was going to be handed over to Zambian authorities. He should have been at Chirundu by 06 hours of yesterday but government, after realising their plans to steal Jay Jay Banda had been foiled is now claiming that the Petauke law maker is in police custody. Jay Jay Banda is safe and is in the hands of the UN,” the sources said.
Some rogue online publication on Tuesday announced as breaking news that Jay Jay Banda had been captured in Zimbabwe with some senior government officials immediately calling some selected media houses to break the news about the claimed capture of the Petauke MP.
However, yesterday, Jack Mwiimbu, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security informed the nation that Mr Banda had been apprehended in Zimbabwe and was in police custody.
“Today (yesterday), the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security wishes to inform the nation that Jay Jay Banda, who escaped from lawful custody on 9 August 2024 has been apprehended in Zimbabwe.
He was renting a flat in Harare and information was communicated to Zimbabwean authorities who managed to apprehend him around 10:00 hours and is currently detained in Harare until arrangement are made of extradition. Jay Jay Banda is facing aggravated robbery and attempted murder and he will come and answer the charges,” Mr Mwiimbu said.
Mr Mwiimbu said the Zambian government was expressing appreciation to the Zimbabwean government for cooperating in ensuring Mr Banda was found and extradited.
Mr Mwiimbu has accused the Patriotic Front (PF) of knowing and abetting the disappearance and warned that those who allegedly knew about the whereabouts of Mr Banda but did not inform the State shall have to account.