Zambian authorities have confirmed that former Petauke-Central MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda was arrested in Mozambique on 14 October by a joint task force and subsequently brought to Zambia.
Banda is reportedly receiving treatment in hospital.
Amnesty International has called on the Zambian and Mozambican authorities to urgently clarify the lawful basis and circumstances of the arrest and transfer, including details of the operation and whether applicable extradition, legal and procedural safeguards were followed.
Amnesty said no one should be transferred to a country where they are at real risk of serious human rights violations, including unlawful detention, noting that such transfer breaches the principle of non-refoulement as laid out in international human rights law.
The organization further said no one should be unlawfully detained and that Zambian authorities must promptly either facilitate the release of Banda or establish lawful grounds for his detention before a competent court.
Amnesty has called on Zambia to urgently facilitate a medical assessment by a qualified health professional, ensure confidential access to a lawyer and family, and disclose the legal basis for the detention.
Does this mean Amnesty International is not aware that Mr. Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda was facing criminal prosecution before he escaped from lawful custody?
Are they also unaware that he was openly advocating the killing of the president? Or maybe these are trivial matters as far as Amnesty is concerned. To them, a civil war is better than “restricting Mr. Banda’s rights.
What does Amnesty International stand for? Maybe the word “Amnesty” should be substituted with a more appropriate word in its name: “Noise or Nosy International”?