Archbishop Alick Banda Did not Praise President Hakainde Hichilema
..reconciliation must be real and not fabricated…
●A handshake alone does not erase months, even years, of tension, antagonism, or political abuse directed at the
Church and its leaders.
ARCHDIOCESE OF LUSAKA
29th April, 2025
Stop Twisting the Archbishop’s Words: A Call for Media
Integrity
A disturbing trend has emerged from the United Party for National
Development (UPND) Media Team, the deliberate misrepresentation of Archbishop Alick Banda’s words during Mass for the late Pope Francis on
Friday April 25th, 2025 at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus.
It is being widely circulated that the Archbishop “commended” President
Hakainde Hichilema for his display of statesmanship.
This assertion is not only
misleading but borders on a dangerous distortion of a sacred moment meant for praying and remembering the late Pope Francis.
Let us be clear; at no point in his homily did Archbishop Banda issue a
commendation.
Yes, there was a handshake between him and the President, but a handshake, with absent sincere dialogue and contrition, is not a symbol of reconciliation; it is an empty gesture.
A handshake alone does not erase months, even years, of tension, antagonism, or political abuse directed at the
Church and its leaders.
It is naive, or worse, deceitful, to present it as a seal of endorsement or a sign of political validation.
The play soundbite nourishment politics Archbishop’s for but and to partisan role, moral shepherd mileage particularly guidance.
To twist his reverent homily is to dishonour such his people both of reverent solemn the goodwill office homily occasions, he with into is holds a not spiritual and political to the
sacredness of the moment.
It is not only disrespectful to him personally, but it
also misleads the public and undermines the Church’s nature and its spiritual
authority.
If the UPND truly wishes to be seen as reconciliatory, it should begin by
ceasing the manipulation of truth for optics.
True leadership is shown through
humility, not propaganda.
If there is contrition, let it be spoken not assumed.
If there is reconciliation, let it be real not fabricated.
P.O. Box 32754, Plot 25215, Kumoyo Road, Pope Square, Longacres – Lusaka -ZAMBIA
Tel:+260 211 255 973/4 Fax: +260 21 1255 975/6 Website: www.lusakaarchdiocese.org
Email: sec@lusakaarchdiocese.org
…who said? Antagonistic and divisive statements Alick Banda. Is there nothing positive that comes out of your mouth?
Is this necessary for a man that should still be mourning? Instead of dealing with the loss of the Catholic leader…Alick Banda and his ego is finding ways to pick a fight with government.
Can the Church do Zambians a favour and remove this man.
It doesn’t matter whatever you say as Alick Banda a good friend and family member of Edgar Chagwa Lungu, better it be like that to yourself, what you believe to be right to yourself and those of this passing world it will help you in your own being and those whom you feel are good to you and indeed your flowers let it be so.
But for our beloved President of the Republic of Zambia. His Excellency President HAKAINDE Hichilema is the President of the whole Country called Zambia and no one will change that until and unless the people of Zambia do so not you Alick Banda sir NO. So if I were you like other real Ministers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Real Minister, I say, i wouldn’t continue behaving like you including your imitator Freddii Mmembe the real harbour of hate and unforgiving person because we see it and in the deeds as they always unfold, appear and reflect in you people.
What i feel and know as of now, is that, most Catholic Cardinals, father’s, brothers, sisters and apostles are still mourning their pope and I assume are also in the process of reflection not fighting like you are doing to an innocent person in the name of His Excillency President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA and the Party that he leads NO. NO NO NO that is not Biblical it is just not Biblical.
So whether you like it or not President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA is our Republican President. Not your friend and brother Lungu NO a big NO for that matter. Secondly whether you don’t like or love him, HIS Excillency President HAKAINDE us as citizens of this blessed nation who voted for him and the majority who are seeing and benefiting from his hard- working job, we greatly love him and always pray for him. But as for you and your Lungu. As for you and your JJ Banda. As for you and your why me. As for you and your Munir Zulu. As for you and your Nakachinda. As for you and your Mundubile. As for you and your Kafwaya Mutototo. As for you and your Emmanuel Mwamba. As for you and your Freddie Mmembe. As for you and your Davies Mwila you will continue in your unforgiving state even to the people you have injured and offended because that is your nature. That is who you are. We know and still remember that ZRA vehicle just as much as we know about the stolen Mukula in PF and the gassing, killings and injuries that the majority innocent Zambian suffered where blood was shed and atill crying in the soil, but for you it is good and you celebrate in such evil acts as I see it, verily i say to you It will be worse for such people who are like those unforging, who don’t love their neighbour as they love themselves. Their love is òlin pride and pompous. They will regret. Humbleness is good. It has to be time for reflection othereise kayaa cabeeee.
So it is true that Lucifer’s are in churches and pretending as if are holy?????? Hopefully this article came from junkies not the priest.
Seeing that the handshake was not followed by delivery of a brown envelope, the clearly entitled man had to vent his anguish at this “apocalyptic” ommission by Mr President.
The practice of “oiling” members of clergy was standing protocol with the previous regime. This practice has been discontinued and the funds are being channeled to the most needy. You would think the ka faza would be pleased about this. He is having himself a full blown temper tantrum.
It is really saddening to see the above bloggers insulting the Bishop. These are the very comments that the cyber laws were designed for. It makes us think that these laws do not apply to UPND members and those with birthright immunity.
God bless Why Me and Captain Ibrahim Traore.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
Vote for change in 2026.
What exactly is the problem between the President together with the UPND administration and Bishop Alick Banda?
Honestly, I do not believe that the confrontational tone in the statement attributed to Bishop Alick Banda was logical or necessary.
It’s strange to imagine what the right bishop satana thinks he is, it seems he thinks he is the Church!!!!!
Look at how agly this Bishop is,his heart is the same.What does the church stand for?The church is supposed to be our foundation for forgiveness ,here comes this Bishop who is very arrogant and very foolish.Go back to the gospel Bishop don’t be a mafia.I fear for the priests he is looking after
Can HH really reconcile with this PF cadre in church robes called Banda? Why should he? If banda was honest with himself let him come out of those robes and join politics full time like frank bwalya did instead of hiding behind the church.
It’s like this man doesn’t know how to forgive and how to forget. What did HH do to you? Why hating an innocent person?
Archbishop Alick Banda appears to be struggling with feelings of bitterness, anger, pride, and insincerity, which stand in stark contrast to the core principles of true Christianity.
He seems to have long held grudges and negative sentiments towards the UPND government and President Hakainde Hichilema. The essence of Jesus Christ’s teachings is rooted in forgiveness and love, yet Archbishop Banda’s actions suggest a lack of these virtues, leading him to misguide both the public and the Catholic Church.
Furthermore, it is inappropriate for him to utilize the Church as a platform to promote his political agenda, disseminating misinformation and hypocrisy that diverges from the teachings of Jesus Christ. One must question the nature of the reconciliation he speaks of and consider what grievances the UPND government has allegedly inflicted upon the Catholic Church.
Equally, it is important to acknowledge that the Catholic Church itself is not without its own shortcomings. Shielding individual clergy members from public scrutiny solely based on their religious status is not justifiable, nor is it always true to claim that the Church’s voice represents the voiceless especially voices coming from Catholic Church Priests like Archbishop Alick Banda?