Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito will study the merits and demerits of a request by former President Rupiah Banda to travel for a meeting in Johannesburg before making a decision to allow him to travel or not.
Nchito, who was speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, said he could not discuss the trip in detail because he is on duty outside Zambia.
“I am not in the country right now but I will deal with this issue (Mr Bandas trip) when I return, Mr Nchito said. I have to study it first,” he said.
On Wednesday, acting President Edgar Lungu said, in addition to his office (Ministry of Home Affairs) sanctioning or rejecting Banda’s request, the former President would need clearance from the DPP.
Lungu said the DPP, who is key in making a decision on whether to allow Mr Banda to travel or not, had not been informed of Mr Bandas intention to travel to South Africa.
The acting President has, however, described Mr Banda as a flight risk who is unlikely to return and face trial if he is allowed to travel abroad, the way his son Henry who is currently in South Africa has done.
Lungu said once Mr Banda makes a case to travel, his office would examine it impartially and judge it on its merit, given the gravity of the criminal charges he faces in court.
Banda is facing trial on allegations that he abused his office while in power after Parliament stripped him of his immunity in March.
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