ZCCB STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA AND THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL IN ZAMBIA.
“In the world you will have hardships, but be courageous:
I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
2nd January 2026
We, members of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), express our unwavering solidarity with Archbishop Alick Banda and all the Catholic faithful in Zambia in the face of ongoing attacks against the Church’s mission and leadership.
We are aware that Most Reverend Alick Banda, Metropolitan Archbishop of Lusaka, has been summonsed to appear before the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission on Monday, 5th January 2026. This was contained in a letter of summons delivered to him on 31st December 2025.
As ZCCB, we view this action as an attempt to suppress his voice as a Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Lusaka and a member of ZCCB. Archbishop Banda has faced consistent name-calling and what we can now recognize as state-sponsored persecution. We consider it an abuse of authority for the ruling party to utilize state machinery against an individual due to his stance on national governance and his efforts to hold the government accountable.
The Catholic Church has, for many years, stood as a beacon of faith, justice, and service to the people of Zambia. Today, as attempts are made to silence her prophetic voice and undermine her pastoral mission, we affirm that the Church’s role in defending truth, justice, and human dignity cannot be diminished or suppressed.
We therefore condemn all forms of intimidation, harassment, and persecution directed against the Catholic Church and her leaders. Such actions not only wound the “Body of Christ”, the Church, but also threaten the moral fabric and unity of our nation. The Church’s voice must remain free to speak truth to powers that be, to comfort the afflicted, and to guide Zambia toward a future rooted in our motto: One Zambia One Nation!
Once again, the ZCCB expresses full solidarity with Archbishop Banda during this period. We reaffirm that it is morally wrong to use state institutions to persecute those who hold dissent views and/or provide oversight on matters of governance. Dialogue and mutual respect should be the way to go.
We exhort the Catholic faithful and all people of good will to continue praying for calm, peace and unity in our nation, especially as we get closer to this year’s general elections.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace, intercede for us!
Signed for and on behalf of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB),
Most Rev. Ignatius Chama,
Archbishop of Kasama and
President of ZCCB
So Alick Banda was “gifted” the Hilux on behalf of the Catholic church?
So someone please explain to me why the white book says “Alick Banda” and not “Catholic church, Zambia”.
These church misleaders should just shut the freak up.
Immature and belligerent statement filled with assumptions and untested accusations. Compare this with the letter written by Father Muyunda and one can clearly see the difference.
You will know them by their fruits!!!
We play with some of these guys. They are just human like everyone. We chat and they clearly do not like this particular guy for his arrogance, manipulative and dictatorial tendencies. Very soon some of them will come out open talking the truth. This fella has divided the church. Rome must pay attention.
You’re supporting criminality and you must be ashamed, what kind of people are you? You’re supposed to distance your organisation because this act was a personal matter. You’re very much compromised and we have no respect for you. All you do is make noise and bring animosity. In Zambia most of the catholic leadership have no morals to say the least because most of you are politicians.
Concise and Accurate representation of what is happening to Archbishop Dr Alick Banda and the Catholic Church.
The ZRA vehicle is just a smokescreen for the persecution of the Archbishop..
The man has been Insulted, abused, humiliated , tormented just because of his vocation, and service to the people of Zambia..His ministry for Jesus Christ is anchored on the Rock of the Catholic Church,in existence from the time of the Disciples..and no mortal can destroy it.
There were 22 reciepients of the ZRA vehicles , among them ZRA employees, Hospitals, Councils etc.
Why of all the people is it just Arch Bishop Dr Alick Banda being summoned by DEC , when the man willingly surrendered the Vehicle in 2023???
If the Archbishop committed an offence let him be arrested, Charged and arraigned before the Courts of Law.
If there’s nothing in the case let the Government publicly state this and close the case .
The Archbishop Dr Alick Banda shouldn’t be turned into a Propaganda Toy for Hakainde’s Hopeless Imingalato…or as cannon foder for his sadistic amusement.
If Hakainde had thought he was going to divide the Zambia Conference Of Catholic Bishops ZCCB by isolating some, he is going to be disappointed.
The Apostolic Nuncio, the Pope’s Representative in Zambia knows what is happening with the Archbishop Dr Alick Banda and the Catholic Church.
Come Today, tomorrow and the next day, Arch Bishop Dr Alick Banda will be Bishop of the Lusaka Diocese, till God calls him to rest, and will continue his Priestly calling
according to Melchizedek vocation..
No amount of Scandalisation, Humiliation and Hostile Propaganda will change this.
All schemes being devised will fall flat and the Archbishop Dr Alick Banda will keep surfacing, serving our God.
May the Homilies start tomorrow through out the Country where this statement will be read..to the remotest Catholic church in Zambia
Let the Church Members know the times we are living in , and the war declared by Hakainde’s government on the Catholic Church…it’s Clergy, and it’s Members.
You contradict yourself in your twists and turns, trying to fit a peg in a hole. This case has the blueprint of the yellow envelopes phenomenon.
The arrogant men in robes have simply lost it, if they had “it” in the first place. These scoffers are trying to play “Animal Farm,” and the dull people following them cry wolf. The men in robes will try to distort scripture to justify Alick Banda instead of helping him reform: that is Animal Farm mentality. Wake up and be objective.
@ Nkuku Man
That is a personal matter, Let him clear his name without involving the church..
No holly cows. If he corruptly obtained the vehicle in question, let him face the law.