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ZAMBIA: Banda Immune?

ZAMBIA: Banda Immune? The ex‐president refuses to appear before an anti‐corruption panel. Watchdog Transparency International Zambia said on February 16th that it supported calls for lifting the immunity of the country's former president Rupiah Banda so that he can answer corruption charges. TIZ executive director, Goodwell Lungu told AFP that the removal of his immunity would give ex‐president Banda the opportunity to clear his name against all the corruption charges associated with him. Since early February, some civil society organisations and government officials had called for stripping Banda, who took office in 2008 but lost power during the 2011 elections to Michael Sata, of his immunity so that he answer corruption charges. On February 14th, President Sata said that Banda was in South Africa to seek political asylum, but Banda denied this later. One of Banda's lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota, said his client would not appear before an anti‐corruption panel because he enjoys presidential immunity for any offences committed during his time in office. But the head of Zambia's anti‐corruption commission, Rosewin Wandi, said Banda was wanted to answer charges into “allegations of corruption and other criminal activities” in which he had been named. Details of the allegations were not disclosed. (© AFP 16/2 2013) Seats Annulled: The Supreme Court nullified the election of two members of parliament from the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) following a petition by losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidates in the 2011 September presidential and parliamentary elections won by the then opposition PF. The Supreme Court nullified the election of Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West members of parliament Lawrence Zimba and Misheck Mutelo on the grounds of electoral malpractice. (PANA, Lusaka 31/1) IN BRIEF Benin: President Boni Yayi has announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, under which Reckya Madougou becomes the Justice, Legislation, Human Rights minister and government spokesperson. Sofiath Onifadé Babamoussa takes over Madougou's former position as Minister in charge of Microfinance, Youth and Women Employment. Akuavi Christiana Marie‐Elise Gbèdo, the ex‐Justice minister, becomes Minister of Industry, Trade and Small and Medium businesses. (PANA, Cotonou 6/2) Chad: The Ministers for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Bachar Ali Souleyman, and Public Security and Immigration, Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, were dismissed on February 14th. (Journal du Tchad 15/2) Equatorial Guinea: Local and legislative elections will be held on May 26th, the first since a series of constitutional reforms were approved in a November 2011 referendum. The reforms included putting a cap on presidential terms and creating the job of vice‐president. Voters will also pick senators for the first time. (© AFP 22/1 2013) The Gambia: Ahead of local government elections on April 4th, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mustapha Carayol, has appealed to opposition parties not to boycott the polls, saying they should stand and promote mass participation by helping to build trust and confidence in the electoral process. (PANA, Banjul 5/2) Morocco: The Islamist Ummah Party has denounced a decision by the appeal court that revoked an earlier ruling authorising its establishment, Al‐Jazeera ( 5/2 ) reported. The constituent committee coordinator, Mohamed El Marouani blamed the Ministry of Interior and “those who stand behind it” for “obstructing” the establishment of his party. (Al‐Jazeera TV, Doha 5/2) South Sudan: The ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has rescheduled its planned extraordinary convention to March 15th in order to pass its basic documents on constitution, manifesto, rules and regulations and code of conduct, according to secretary general Pagan Amum. (Sudan Tribune 14/2) Sudan: Human Rights Watch (HRW) on February 26th called on the authorities to release or charge six opposition members, saying their continued detention without charges violates due process. The six are members of parties that participated in negotiations in Uganda with rebel groups in January over an agreement – the New Dawn Charter – stating a common goal of changing the government through both armed and peaceful means. (PANA, Lagos 26/2) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series Wiley

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2013
ISSN
0001-9844
eISSN
1467-825X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-825X.2013.04953.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The ex‐president refuses to appear before an anti‐corruption panel. Watchdog Transparency International Zambia said on February 16th that it supported calls for lifting the immunity of the country's former president Rupiah Banda so that he can answer corruption charges. TIZ executive director, Goodwell Lungu told AFP that the removal of his immunity would give ex‐president Banda the opportunity to clear his name against all the corruption charges associated with him. Since early February, some civil society organisations and government officials had called for stripping Banda, who took office in 2008 but lost power during the 2011 elections to Michael Sata, of his immunity so that he answer corruption charges. On February 14th, President Sata said that Banda was in South Africa to seek political asylum, but Banda denied this later. One of Banda's lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota, said his client would not appear before an anti‐corruption panel because he enjoys presidential immunity for any offences committed during his time in office. But the head of Zambia's anti‐corruption commission, Rosewin Wandi, said Banda was wanted to answer charges into “allegations of corruption and other criminal activities” in which he had been named. Details of the allegations were not disclosed. (© AFP 16/2 2013) Seats Annulled: The Supreme Court nullified the election of two members of parliament from the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) following a petition by losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidates in the 2011 September presidential and parliamentary elections won by the then opposition PF. The Supreme Court nullified the election of Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West members of parliament Lawrence Zimba and Misheck Mutelo on the grounds of electoral malpractice. (PANA, Lusaka 31/1) IN BRIEF Benin: President Boni Yayi has announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, under which Reckya Madougou becomes the Justice, Legislation, Human Rights minister and government spokesperson. Sofiath Onifadé Babamoussa takes over Madougou's former position as Minister in charge of Microfinance, Youth and Women Employment. Akuavi Christiana Marie‐Elise Gbèdo, the ex‐Justice minister, becomes Minister of Industry, Trade and Small and Medium businesses. (PANA, Cotonou 6/2) Chad: The Ministers for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Bachar Ali Souleyman, and Public Security and Immigration, Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, were dismissed on February 14th. (Journal du Tchad 15/2) Equatorial Guinea: Local and legislative elections will be held on May 26th, the first since a series of constitutional reforms were approved in a November 2011 referendum. The reforms included putting a cap on presidential terms and creating the job of vice‐president. Voters will also pick senators for the first time. (© AFP 22/1 2013) The Gambia: Ahead of local government elections on April 4th, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mustapha Carayol, has appealed to opposition parties not to boycott the polls, saying they should stand and promote mass participation by helping to build trust and confidence in the electoral process. (PANA, Banjul 5/2) Morocco: The Islamist Ummah Party has denounced a decision by the appeal court that revoked an earlier ruling authorising its establishment, Al‐Jazeera ( 5/2 ) reported. The constituent committee coordinator, Mohamed El Marouani blamed the Ministry of Interior and “those who stand behind it” for “obstructing” the establishment of his party. (Al‐Jazeera TV, Doha 5/2) South Sudan: The ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has rescheduled its planned extraordinary convention to March 15th in order to pass its basic documents on constitution, manifesto, rules and regulations and code of conduct, according to secretary general Pagan Amum. (Sudan Tribune 14/2) Sudan: Human Rights Watch (HRW) on February 26th called on the authorities to release or charge six opposition members, saying their continued detention without charges violates due process. The six are members of parties that participated in negotiations in Uganda with rebel groups in January over an agreement – the New Dawn Charter – stating a common goal of changing the government through both armed and peaceful means. (PANA, Lagos 26/2)

Journal

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural SeriesWiley

Published: Mar 1, 2013

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