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Open society Foundation (OSF) Executive Director, Sunday Chanda, says the travel ban on former Republican President, Rupiah Banda, was done in the interests of defense, in the interests of public safety and in the interest of public order among others as provided for in the constitution.
Mr Chanda says freedom of movement can be restricted by the State.
The former President, Rupiah Banda, was scheduled to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the African Presidential Centre Roundtable Conference 2013, for four days from the 6th to the 9th June, 2013, following a court order to allow him to travel abroad.
He urged the stakeholders to be mindful that the Ministry of Home Affairs and other Investigative Wings of Government have a constitutional duty to secure national interests as specialized agencies with regards to the action meted out to Mr Banda’s travel embargo.
He said in dealing with matters of national security and securing national interests, it is also possible that the judiciary may not be privy to certain information at investigation stage.
Mr Chanda said this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile, Mr Chanda is shocked that Fr Frank Bwalya and Mr George Mpombo should be the ones to defend former President, Rupiah Banda, when only yesterday they were in the forefront to insult and vilify the former Head of State.
The OSF Chief said it was unfortunate that Zambia has an opportunistic opposition infested with hypocrisy and politics of placation.
“It is unbelievable that Fr Bwalya and Mr Mpombo should be the ones to defend former President Banda when only yesterday they were the ones in the forefront to insult and vilify the man. We unfortunately have an opportunistic opposition in the country that is infested with hypocrisy and politics of placation,” Mr Chanda said.
A few days ago, Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu, clarified that the former President, Rupiah Banda, was not been allowed to leave the country because of the travel embargo placed on him by the Government Joint Investigative Team.
Mr Lungu said government has given instructions to different investigative wings to be alert and not allow Mr Banda to go out of the country without clearance because Mr Banda may tamper with evidence and witnesses, or sabotage the investigations all together.
The minister further said the office of the Attorney General was not served with the
Thursday’s court order to allow Mr Banda to go out of the country.
