INSPECTOR General of Police Kakoma Kanganja says his command had to abandon their intentions of charging Eastern Province PF youth chairman Emmanuel J Banda for aggravated robbery after the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) advised that there wasn’t enough evidence to do so.

And Kanganja says he has ordered the Eastern Province command to arrest Jay Jay for leading an illegal procession yesterday.

In a statement today, Kanganja explained why Jay Jay was not charged for aggravated robbery as earlier announced.

“I have noted concerns from members of the public questioning the charge given to Emmanuel Jay Banda also known as Jay Jay by police. On 06th July, 2020, Emmanuel Jay Banda in the company of other people are alleged to have attacked a police officer who was on duty at Lusaka Central Police Station. Following the attack, police managed to apprehend four suspects identified as John Lungu, Maxwell Pito, Leyford Phiri and Maurice Siluonde while Emmanuel Banda who was the master minder escaped. Police launched a manhunt for Banda until yesterday, 19th August, 2020 when he handed himself to police at Lusaka Central Police. During the time when the suspect was on the run, police had compiled a docket of Aggravated Robbery and forwarded it to National Prosecution Authority (NPA) which is a procedural requirement and the advice from NPA was that the matter lacked enough evidence to stand for Aggravated Robbery hence advised that the charge be reduced to Aggravated Assault with intent to steal,” Kanganja explained.

And Kanganja said he had ordered for Jay Jay’s arrest for leading an illegal procession.

“It was however, observed that after Banda was released on Police Bond, he proceeded to Eastern Province where he staged an unlawful procession which is against provisions of the Public Order Act. I have therefore directed the Eastern Province Police Commissioner to arrest the said Banda as he did not notify the police,” stated Kanganja.

“I wish to reassure members of the public that the Zambia Police shall not favour any individual based on political affiliation, race or status in society in execution of duty as our mandate demands that we enforce the law fairly.”