Political Analyst Challenges Amnesty International

By Ellen Hambuba Political and governance analyst FARAI RUVANYATHI has challenged Amnesty International’s concerns over the arrest of former Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda to Zambia. Mr RUVANYATHI says the organization should balance its scrutiny of law enforcement procedures with equal attention to alleged human rights violations. In a statement ,Mr RUVANYATHI said Mr BANDA’s return to Zambia should be viewed in the context of the criminal allegations he faces and the need to uphold the rule of law. Mr .RUVANYATHI has questioned what he describes as selective human rights advocacy by Amnesty International following the organization’s reported call for Zambian and Mozambican authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest and return of Emmanuel Jay Banda to Zambia. He maintained that Mr BANDA is a Zambian national wanted by the country’s criminal justice system and that his return should be considered within the context of efforts to bring him before the courts. He argues that human rights organisations should pay attention both to the rights of individuals facing criminal proceedings and to the rights of people who may have suffered violations. He said the concerns attributed to Amnesty International place renewed focus on the balance between the enforcement of criminal law, respect for national sovereignty and the protection of human rights in cross-border cases. See less