Maravi

Govt withdraws Sata's passport

Govt withdraws Sata's passport
By Nomusa Michelo
Saturday November 10, 2007 [03:01]

GOVERNMENT has temporarily withdrawn Patriotic Front president Michael Sata’s passport. Home affairs minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha announced yesterday during a press briefing that Sata was on Thursday asked to hand over his new passport after he failed to comply with the Passport Office’s request for a police report which indicates that he lost his passport.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha explained that Sata applied for a replacement of his passport which he allegedly lost in London immediately after his arrival in Lusaka on October 23, 2007.

He said a passport, number ZC001096 was issued to Sata on the same day based on a declaration he made through a sworn affidavit and a lost passport description Form ‘L’ as a supporting document.

“According to Mr Sata, a police report was submitted at the Zambian High Commission in London where he applied for a travel document to enable him to travel back home to Zambia,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha said. “Upon verification with the Zambian High Commission office in London as to whether Mr Sata did submit the police report, it was established that Mr Sata did not submit the said police report.”

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said a written request was made for Sata to furnish the Passports Office with a copy of the police report because it is a requirement by law when someone is applying for a replacement of a passport.

“It is now more that a week and Mr Sata has not responded. When there was no response from Mr Sata, the office was compelled to ask Mr Sata to temporarily surrender the new passport until he fulfills the requirement of a police report. The ball is in his court,” he said. “The new passport number ZC 001096 was surrendered to the Chief Passport Office yesterday (Thursday) the 8th of November 2007.”

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said police have since recorded a warn and caution statement from Sata and the five passport officers who issued him with the travel document and the new passport.

“Warn and caution statements have been recorded from the officers who processed the application for Mr Sata’s new passport mainly to establish why the passport was issued without a police report,” he said. “The police recorded the warn and caution statement yesterday (Thursday) from Mr Sata who opted to remain silent. An officer is in London to take a warn and caution statement from the officer who issued Mr. Sata with the travel document at the Zambian High Commission.”
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said after all investigations are done, the police will decide whether or not to charge Sata with the offence as described under the passport Act 2003.
“Now, why are we insisting on a police report?” Lt Gen Shikapwasha asked. “The law is clear. According to the Passport Act 2003, section 18(i) provides for report of loss or theft of passport to the police and a police report shall accompany the application for a replacement passport. This is the condition which should have been fulfilled by Mr. Sata.”

The passport Act 2003 section 18 (i) reads:

“Where a passport is lost or stolen, the holder of the passport shall: (a) as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the loss of theft of the passport report the loss or theft of the passport to the nearest police station in the district or country in which the passport was lost or stolen; and (b) file a report on the loss or theft of the passport with the Chief Passport Officer: provided that where a passport is lost outside Zambia, the holder of the passport shall file a report with the passport officer at a Zambian mission.”

Labels: SATA

posted by MrK @ 6:35 AM