Maravi

Where is your son? Luonde asks Rupiah

Where is your son? Luonde asks Rupiah
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 20 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT

RUPIAH Banda should disclose to the nation the whereabouts of his fugitive son, Henry, so that he faces the law, demands Kitwe Anglican priest Fr Richard Luonde.

Fr Luonde said in an interview from Ndola yesterday that when Banda was at State House, the country was kept abreast of the first family's whereabouts but it was now surprising that he did not want the nation to know Henry's whereabouts.

"Of course, the former president if his son is wanted by the investigative wings, he should be able to assist the nation through the investigative wings so that they locate where Henry is and put this argument to rest," Fr Luonde said.

"Because when the father was at State House, the nation knew wherever they were and for him to disappear or to be in hiding, what is he hiding from? Let the former president disclose where his son is and encourage him to come and face the investigative wings and give his side of the story."

Sources have disclosed that Henry was recently spotted in Nairobi, Kenya, although that government dispelled the story as "false".

Presidential Press Service director Isaiah Kabira dismissed the claim, calling it nonsense.

"That is not true. It is nonsense. We shall take it up," Mr Kabira told the Sunday Nation on the phone.

On February 3, Kenya's Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere also said Henry, who has been declared a fugitive in Zambia, could not be traced in Kenya.

And Fr Luonde said for as long as Henry was hiding from the probe team, people would conclude that he had proved himself guilty of the deals he is alleged to have involved himself in.

"So the best thing that Henry should do is come out in the open, face whoever wants him," said Fr Luonde. "The nation wants to know what the investigative wings what to know."

Banda told journalists recently when he addressed MMD cadres that went to offer solidarity with his wife, Thandiwe, when she appeared before the combined investigative team over Mphundu Trust funds, that his family was hurt by the investigations going on against them.

On the police looking for Henry, Banda said the law enforcement agencies were liars.

"They're actually lying. Yesterday I said he former Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama was silly. Now I want to tell you that they're lying; they've never even approached this poor boy and he has never been to Kenya," Banda said.

"He was last in Kenya, if you heard the BBC yesterday, he was last in Kenya six months ago. So anawenye amudala enena kuti ali ku Kenya so the man saying he is in Kenya is a liar. We have all heard it, he's not in Kenya."

But Kenya Police said Henry used two passports on different occasions, with the last update showing he left Kenya on November 23 last year.

And foreign affairs and tourism minister Given Lubinda said the government would investigate the "revelations" about Henry's whereabouts.

Local investigative wings recently said Henry, who is wanted for alleged corruption during his father's rule, is seeking refuge in Kenya after the alarm was sounded for his possible interrogation.

Labels: HENRY BANDA, RICHARD LUONDE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 1:49 PM