Zambia intensifies extradition quest of Henry BandaBy MICHAEL CHAWE in Lusaka | Monday, April 23  2012 at  13:52

Zambia Police is in quest of the extradition of former president Rupiah Banda’s son Henry from South Africa using the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).

Mr Banda, 44, is wanted by the Zambia Police to answer allegations of corruption relating to the sale of Zamtel to LAP Green Networks of Libya, which transaction has been reversed by the current regime saying it was riddled with fraud.

Mr Banda is currently on Interpol website as a wanted person and is alleged to have committed unspecified offences during his father reign in his home country.

“We have been in communication with Interpol, who we know have also been communicating with South Africa, but in addition to that, we are putting up efforts to liaise with South Africa, who are members of SARPCCO so that within the framework of SADC, we could get help from that country,” Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani told journalists Sunday.
“We have decided to engage South Africa through our bilateral arrangement through the SARPCCO link to reinforce our investigations in the matter. We are not saying that Interpol has failed us, not at all. We have provided all the relevant information which they have requested us to. Therefore, this route is just in addition to what we have already started so that we don’t leave any stone unturned in our investigations.”

South Africa, where Mr Banda is currently living, had earlier said it could not extradite “anyone” from that country in absence of “solid charges”.

The Zambia Government says they could not make public charges against Mr Banda until they question him.His lawyer Mr Robert Amsterdam says the allegations against his client were politically motivated.

Mr Banda’s portrait was not on the Interpol website because Zambia Police had not yet been requested, said Ms Libongani.