RB blocked from leaving the country

RB blocked from leaving the country

Lusaka, June 7, ZANIS-Former president Rupiah Banda was yesterday morning blocked from leaving the country by immigration officers at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

Deputy Administrative Assistant in the office of the Fourth Republican President, Kennedy Limwanya, confirmed the incident in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka.

Mr Limwanya said immigration officers said they had received instructions from the top not to allow Mr Banda to fly to South Africa.

He said despite showing the officers the court order signed by the Lusaka High Court Judge in charge, Jane Kabuki, the immigration officers said they understood what the order said but could not do anything about it.

He said the officer were adamant that the instructions they were implementing had come from the chief immigration officer, Moola Milimo.

Judge Kabuki had ordered the joint government investigative team to release president Banda’s passport to enable him travel to South Africa.

In her ruling, Judge Kabuki said Mr Banda was not a flight-risk as he has all his possessions in Zambia and young children he was leaving behind.

Mr Banda was scheduled to travel to South Africa yesterday where he was expected to attend the 2013 African Presidential Roundtable.