Ex-Zambian president stopped from attending Uhuru’s inauguration

Former Zambia President Rupiah Banda. (Photo:Reuters)

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAirobi, Kenya: Former Zambia President Rupiah Banda was on Tuesday stopped at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from attending the inauguration of Kenyan leader President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Media reports from Zambia said Banda was due to leave aboard Kenyan Airways at 11: 00 hours Tuesday after Zambian authorities reluctantly released his passport through a court order.

International lawyer, who is representing president Banda and his son Henry twitted; “Former President Banda stopped at airport from attending inauguration of Kenyan leader.

“Rule of Law clearly no longer exists as President Sata is determined to violate all legal standards in a quest to keep PF in power.”

This is despite a court order that allows Rupiah Banda to travel abroad in view of his passport being in custody of the state after it was taken following his arrest on graft charges.

Kennedy Limwanya, the assistant administrator to Rupiah Banda said immigration officials at the airport said they received instructions from ‘higher authorities’ not to allow the former president’s travel to Kenya.

There were strong moves by the state through Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito to block Mr Banda from flying to Nairobi by refusing to release his passport. However Banda’s lawyers made a quick application to the Magistrate that forced the state to release the passport.

Banda, who was chief observer of the Jimmy Carter Foundation, during the elections in Kenya is credited for playing a crucial role in preparing candidates accept the outcome of what was a closely contested poll.

During the salutations at a packed Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Rupiah Banda was recognised ahead of first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda who traveled in the delegation of Vice-President Guy Scott and deputy minister of finance – President Michael Sata’s nephew – Miles Sampa.

At the time Banda’s name was being recognised at a packed Kasarani Sports Centre in Nairobi, officials in Lusaka were blocking him from flying out of the country.

Banda was scheduled to leave on Monday but his trip was delayed after authorities in Zambia had planned to stop Banda from traveling by withholding his passport but magistrate Joshua Banda ordered the release of the document.

The internationally respected Banda has been dragged to court by the PF government on allegations of corruption that the former observers see as persecution.

Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration was attended by nearly all presidents from East, Central and Southern Africa. Malawi and Zambia delegated its vice-presidents.

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan were all in attendance at the event.