Maravi

Rupiah to attend SA roundtable
By Namatama Mundia and Agness Changala
Fri 07 June 2013, 14:01 CAT

FORMER president Rupiah Banda is today expected to leave for South Africa to attend the 2013 African presidential roundtable following the release of his passport by the Lusaka High Court.

Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Jane Kabuka yesterday ordered the release of Banda's passport following an application by his lawyers led by Sakwiba Sikota.

Earlier, Banda had applied in the Lusaka Magistrates' Court for variation of his police bond but chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda and principal resident magistrate Obbister Musukwa in separate rulings dismissed the application saying their inherit powers were limited as they could only extend a police bond but advised Banda's lawyers to make the application before the High Court.

Sikota confirmed after the ruling which was delivered in chambers that Banda's passport had been released to his surety and administrative assistant Mikatazo Wakumelo.

He said judge Kabuka stated that the court would be looking at Banda's applications to release his passport as they come.

"Each time he (Banda) has to travel, an application will have to be made," Sikota said.

He said Banda would still travel for the roundtable meeting even if he was late by a day saying the meeting runs up to Sunday. Banda will be accompanied by Wakumelo and former economic advisor Richard Chembe.
And Banda would this morning leave for South Africa following the release of his passport.

"The Boston University African Presidential Centre has re-booked the former head of state on tomorrow's today South African Airways flight departing Lusaka at 07:15 hours as the last flight today yesterday had already left by the time the passport was being released," stated Banda's deputy administrative assistant Kennedy Limwanya.

He stated that Banda's slot at the roundtable had since been moved to today and would among other things, moderate in session-two under the subject 'Making Government Work', whose discussant would be former Mauritius president Karl Auguste Offmann.

Limwanya further stated that Banda will also be in time for session-three to be moderated by former Zanzibar president Amani Abeid Karume under the title 'Democracy: The Social Contract'.

Other notable personalities attending the African Presidential; roundtable are former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, former Tanzanian president Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga and Martin Luther King junior, a professor of ethical leadership at Boston University.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, SAKWIBA SIKOTA

posted by MrK @ 6:03 PM