BILL 7 EXPOSES A DISTURBING AGENDA: ZAMBIANS CHALLENGE POLITICAL ACTIVISM HIDING BEHIND THE CASSOCK
The Bill 7 debate has torn the mask off a troubling trend in Zambia: a small clique of Catholic leaders attempting to convert the Church into a political attack machine. And Zambians are calling it out, loudly and without apology.
For weeks, Archbishop Alick Banda has been at the centre of what many citizens view as a coordinated campaign to discredit the UPND Government. Together with Bishop Ignatius Chama and Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulandu, he is accused by large sections of the public and even fellow clergy of pushing narratives designed to mislead the nation, fuel public anger, and weaken the authority of a democratically elected Government.
Zambians are asking a simple, direct question:
Who gave these bishops the right to dictate national politics?
The allegations are serious, and the frustrations are real. Many argue that these clerics are not offering spiritual leadership but are instead acting like political operatives determined to manufacture chaos under the cover of religion. But their strategy is collapsing.
Inside the Catholic Church itself, a significant number of priests and bishops have openly rejected what they describe as a “dangerous agenda” being pushed by Archbishop Banda and a few allies. These clergy say openly that the trio’s behaviour does not represent the broader Catholic community and warn that their conduct is dragging the Church into unwanted, partisan confrontation.
Their message is blunt: Zambia will not be ruled by bitterness from the pulpit.
They insist that President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND Government were elected by the people, and only the people, not bishops, will decide the outcome of the 2026 General Election. Not through threats. Not through manipulation. Not through politically charged sermons designed to stir unrest.
Several clergy warn that pushing incendiary narratives in the name of religion is reckless and dangerous. Zambia has enjoyed decades of peace, and the country cannot afford to be destabilised by individuals abusing clerical authority to wage political battles.
The national mood is shifting, and Zambians are speaking with unprecedented clarity:
No religious leader, no matter their title, will be allowed to hold the nation hostage to personal grudges or political ambitions.
The message is firm. The message is national.
Zambia belongs to its citizens, not a handful of bishops playing opposition politics.
By Chilufya Kasonde
Ilelanga News. December 05, 2025.
The ZRA vehicle confiscated from someone has caused the bitterness and hatred for government and the head of state. Selfish people.
The Bishops have a right to participate in national affairs, especially constitutional matters. Ultimately, catholics will decide as individuals who to support.
Just debunk their assertions if you disagree with them but don’t ask them to keep quiet.
There is no one telling Catholic Bishops to keep quiet because every citizen of this country has the right to express his/her opinion on matters of national interest. What we are against is the manner in which that opinion is expressed. There is a big difference between expression of an opinion and imposing it on people. While we know and appreciate that Catholic Bishops have the right to participate in national affairs like Constitutional Amendment, I don’t agree that them have the right to impose their opinion on us. Moreover it’s not only them but all the other Bishops and ordinary citizens in the country have the same right to participate in national affairs and there should always be a consensus between the supporting and the opposing side. Allowing one group of people to have more powers than others is more dangerous than the Bill they are trying to oppose at the same time they are destroying our democracy which they claim to be protecting. For example, if some people can stop a Bill before it reaches Parliament where the people we elect are, what is the use of having Parliament? It’s totally pointless. That’s how State Capture Starts and should be avoided at all costs. Killing your own Legislature is not protecting democracy, it’s actually destroying it and that’s what we don’t want to happen in Zambia. Yes, we have the right to express our opinion but we should know our limit. Laws are made in Parliament by the people through the representatives we elect, so let us leave the final say to the Parliamentarians to pass or reject the laws in Parliament and not in Churches, State House or on the streets, that’s true democracy. The President doesn’t make laws he just signs when they go through the three readings in Parliament. But in Zambia it’s now becoming a trend that anything people are talking about is directed to State House, that is abusing and disrespecting the Office of the presidency. If I were an MP myself, I would move a motion banning protests at State House. All protests concerning laws should be done at Parliament or line Ministries and not at State House. We are slowly creating a very bad precedence which will be very difficult to erase. Before we lose direction, let State House be for dialogue and not for protests. Memories are still fresh on how we struggled to curb cadrerism to restore sanity in bus stations and markets. Once the State House protests culture takes root, it will be very difficult to uproot it.