The Zambia Police Service has confirmed the apprehension of former Petauke Central Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Jay Banda.
Police Spokesperson, Chipo Kaitisha, said Banda was currently in the country awaiting formal charges adding that further details would be provided in due course.
Kaitisha confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday and appealed to the public to remain calm as due process takes its course.
Banda, who represented Petauke Central Constituency in Parliament, had been on the run after escaping from lawful custody while receiving treatment at a hospital.
Following his escape, five law enforcement officers who were guarding him at the hospital were detained over alleged misconduct.
Banda’s three wives were also questioned in connection with his escape, as they were with him at the hospital before he vanished.
The former lawmaker, who is facing criminal allegations, was initially taken to the hospital for hernia treatment on August 1, 2024.
“On August 1, 2024, he was attended to by medical doctors and a minor operation was conducted in order to cure the hernia,” then Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu said.
While in hospital, Banda was advised to undergo saltwater therapy in the afternoon and evening, which involved sitting in a bucket filled with salted water.
Mwiimbu said that at around 21:00 hours, two police officers guarding Banda were approached by his wife, Lombe Chali Banda, 31, who requested that her husband be given privacy for the hernia treatment.
“They said they wanted to use the toilet and also to apply the directions by the medical doctors that he had to submerge in salt water,” the minister said.
He explained that the police officers granted the request to allow the patient to use the toilet.
After the therapy, Banda’s wife called the officers to return to the room where he was supposed to be.
“Unfortunately, when officers went back to the room where Jay Jay Banda was left with the three wives, he was not in the room,” Mwiimbu said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Banda escaped through a hospital window, with the Government suspecting foul play.
“There was foul play in terms of the escape. I won’t say if the wife facilitated. We are also intervening the three wives as to what happened because they were there,” Mwiimbu said.
He said three Zambia Correctional Service officers and two police officers who were guarding Banda were being held.
On July 12, 2025, Banda was committed to the High Court for trial over allegations of aggravated robbery and attempted murder.
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