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Zambia arrests 31 students over food subsidy protests

Agence France-PresseMay 18, 2013 10:30
Zambia police said Saturday they have detained on the president's orders at least 31 university students who were protesting against the government's decision to scrap staple food subsidies. "We have so far apprehended 31 students and they have not yet been charged," Lusaka provincial police chief Joyce Kasosa told AFP. Hundreds of students from the University of Zambia had marched to President Michael Sata's office on Friday, demanding an audience with him.

Zambia arrests gay couple

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 16:30
Zambian police Monday arrested a gay couple after the family of one of the men reported the relationship to authorities, who made the first arrest of its kind under tough anti-gay laws. James Mwape, 20, and Philip Mubiana, 21, from the northern town of Kapiri Mposhi, are said to have been living together for some time. "The two have been charged with the offence of sodomy or having sex against the order of nature contrary to the laws of Zambia," said central province police chief Standwell Lungu.

Zambia leader sacks railways boss

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 14:37
Zambia's President Michael Sata on Tuesday suspended the chief executive of the state-run rail company Zambia Railway for alleged corruption, after he served for less than six months. His suspension from the recently nationalised firm, came two days after the president dissolved the board of directors. Clive Chirwa, was ordered to vacate the company's Lusaka apartment where he was staying. "I am suspending you from duty and you will be on half pay," Sata said in a letter to Chirwa.

Zambian ex-president's court case delayed

April 17, 2013 08:46
A Zambian court on Wednesday delayed the trial of ex-leader Rupiah Banda, who is accused of skimming cash from a Nigerian oil deal. The court was expected to make a ruling on whether it was appropriate to arrest Banda, who ruled Zambia from 2008 to 2011, under a law that had been repealed. But the decision was delayed until Monday because the magistrate handling the matter was not available. "(He) is attending to other national duties, and the ruling has been moved to Monday 22," said presiding official Aridah Chulu.

Emerald sellers, buyers slam Zambia auction ruling

April 16, 2013 14:01
A lack of buyers at a Zambian emerald auction on Tuesday raised doubts about the government's recent and controversial decision to ban foreign sales of the gems. Around 24 of 31 Indian gemstone companies turned up to an auction in Lusaka, amid complaints from buyers that hosting auctions in the Zambian capital is impractical. Zambia last week banned the selling of its gemstones abroad, a move that the government said was meant to protect the country from unscrupulous buyers and keep gem wealth in the country.

Ex-Zambian leader arrested again

April 15, 2013 07:46
Embattled ex-Zambian president Rupiah Banda was rearrested Monday and slapped with fresh graft charges linked to the acquisition of nine trucks for his 2011 re-election campaign, investigators said. "The former president, Rupiah Banda has today been formally charged and arrested in connection with nine light trucks which he received from a construction company that was constructing a stadium," said Namukolo Kasumpa, a spokeswoman for the Government Joint Investigations Team.

Zambia ex-leader wins right to challenge immunity ruling

April 12, 2013 11:45
A Zambian high court judge on Friday granted ex-president Rupiah Banda the right to challenge parliament's decision to remove his immunity, the first victory in a politically-tinged legal battle. Parliament on March 15 stripped Banda of immunity so that he could be prosecuted for alleged offences committed during his three-year tenure as head of state. But Judge Annie Sitali ruled that lawmakers erred in voting on a matter before courts could consider an application to block their debate.

Zambian authorities say they stopped ex-president Rupiah Banda from leaving the country

April 11, 2013 03:02
Zambian authorities said they stopped ex-president Rupiah Banda from leaving the country yesterday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Kenya's new president because he was late for the function. Banda, who is facing corruption charges, was turned back at the international airport in Lusaka by immigration officials citing orders from ‘higher up,’ Banda's aide Kennedy Limwanya told AFP. Deputy information minister Mwansa Kapeya said the immigration authorities acted legally to stop Banda from boarding the plane. Kapeya said Banda was to take off from Lusaka at 11:00 am (0

Zambia drops charges against opposition leader

April 9, 2013 10:01
Zambian prosecutors dropped defamation charges against opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday, ending a highly charged and politically tinged case. Hichilema, who leads the opposition United Party for National Development, was arrested in January and charged with making allegedly defamatory remarks against President Michael Sata, while campaigning in a Lusaka slum. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on bail. The case was withdrawn Tuesday after the prosecution made an application not to pursue the charges.

Zambian ex-leader's graft case delayed again

April 5, 2013 09:45
The start of a highly-charged trial of Zambia's ex-president Rupiah Banda on corruption charges was again delayed Friday, after his lawyers questioned the jurisdiction of the court. Banda's lawyers argued that a magistrate court could not hear a case that involved offences allegedly committed when Banda was head of state, because they concern constitutional matters. Magistrate Joshua Banda postponed the case to April 17 when he will make a ruling on whether he can hear the matter, which many believe is politically motivated, or shift it to the High Court.
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