Archbishop Alick Banda was summoned yesterday to appear before the Anti-money Laundering Investigations Unit at the former Ministry of Justice building on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10:00 hours without fail.
This attempt by Mr Hakainde Hichilema to discredit, criminalise, and humiliate him is not new. It has been a political survival strategy of his from the very beginning of his government. It is intensified now to ensure that Archbishop Banda is removed long before this year’s August 13 general elections.
The attacks on Archbishop Banda using the Drug Enforcement Commission, which is today under his direct supervision and command, show the crassness of Mr Hichilema’s politics.
But it shouldn’t be forgotten that the Catholic Church has been under continual attack ever since the time of Jesus. Does anyone believe that it will suddenly end?
As Mr Hichilema increasingly becomes politically insecure, we can expect that he will increase his attacks on the leadership of the Catholic Church, especially on Archbishop Banda.
The Catholic Church has stood athwart the world, as it has since the time of Jesus. Catholicism is not about worldly power (even though it has involved itself in worldly matters), but its primary mission is personal salvation. Catholic history is filled with martyrs who stood for the church who died at the hands of governments and men like Mr Hichilema.
Catholics should fully expect that under Mr Hichilema’s persecution will increase. To believe otherwise is to ignore his attitude towards the Catholic leadership, especially Archbishop Banda, over the last 4 years of his government.
Again, in difficult times like these, it is important to turn to the homily of Pope Francis on this score:
“Bishops must remember, particularly when under attack, that their role is to pray, be humble in knowing God chose them, and remain close to the people. In fact, a bishop does not seek refuge from the powerful, the elite, no.
It will be the elite who criticize the bishop, while the people show love toward their bishop and confirm him in his vocation. In these times, it seems like the devil, the great accuser, has been let loose, and he’s got it in for the bishops. The great accuser seeks to reveal sins, which people can see, in order to scandalize the people of God.
The great accuser roams the world seeking how to blame. The strength of the bishop against the great accuser is prayer — his own and Jesus’, the humility to feel chosen and staying close to the people of God without heading toward an aristocratic life.”
Let’s all pray for our Archbishop and accompany him to DEC on Monday.
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party and 2026 presidential candidate of the People’s Pact
Stupid kezeli with low minds , when did archbishop be friends you? Ndefwaya pushed ko basho Maggie?
There is no need, but if you want you can go with him it won’t change anything. Don’t forget to go and help Maduro too
Accompany him to do what Fred Mmembe? Are you part of the charge or interview?
How do stop criminality and rot in our country when everything serious is turned into a mockery and a game?
When will the Archbishop realise that what he was a part of is a crime?
That car doesnt belong to Mmembe. It is and was public property.
So why should Mmembe make this a political debicle?
Mmembe has his own crimes to answer. Its a crime to point a gun at someone without intent to use it. Why his case stalled? These whimiscal display of disregard for the law. Or treating certain individuals like demigods is what has cause abuse of public property and abuse of office as casual as a walk in the park. Look at the state of PF and the casualness they carry out their business.
Do we seriously want to continue to generate ourselves into that state?
Those who parot nonsense and think they can lead need to ask what their actions suggest? Morals would made Mundubile if he had the character to lead the party. But it an alterfication bewteen him and Kambwili for his sorride character to be brought out. How many such people are brought to the frow and elected only for the truth to come out after the fact?
What kind of people are to expose the nation to a bunch klepomanics while individuals with the truth clap their hands in support of villians to sit among us like innocent sheep?
We need some sense of deep introspect. And stop turning serious interventions of the law into some kind of game. Mmembe after how you sought to gain from tax evasion you have no moral right to lead anyone let alone anything. So please go away….you only insult us with your smuggness.
Indeed he is in our Prayers.
What does Hakainde want from this?
Is it to stress the Arch Bishop so that he keeps quiet or to actually Imprison him?
Let’s wait and see the Charges.
2026 hasn’t started well.
Am sure the Papal Nuncio is following this and will keep the Pope informed.
Are you also part of the team who received money under dubious means and pretense like china,you should be hanged as well as an example not to support crime
Now that the DEC Director General has explained that the call out for Arch Bishop Dr Alick Banda relates to the ZRA Vehicle, then it’s just Intimidation of the Bishop.
I had thought the case of money laundering may be involved huge Sums of Money..the Faith Musonda type. To hear that the case involves ZRA Motor Vehicles which were even returned to the government , it’s just politics…a way to intimidate Dr Alick Banda to silence as we head towards the General Elections. If these are the fresh Imingalato, then they are very poor.
Mr Chicken, are you just plain stupid or just pretending to be a moron????
Did you also receive a satanic gift too???
Can’t you see this is God’s way or using his grace to correct a rotten prodigal servant???
Be careful with your foolish support cause the Lord may strike you as well.
M’meembe is a thief and we know how he sees this noble act of the DEC. We don’t expect him to behave differently that is why he will keep whimpering like a dog as HH corrects the wrongs. But you half-wits who chorus in support of these criminals are what makes me wonder. Your behaviour can be likened to Lot’s wife who looked back as God was destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. You will end up as pillars of salt.
Ba Dr. M’membe, the Catholic Church has also had episodes of greed and violence. The inquisition resulted in many innocent Christians meeting violent ends at the hands of the Catholic Church. And there have been periods in history when the Catholic Church has been thoroughly corrupt.
Churches in general should be viewed with caution, especially when they start fraternising with politicians. Donations from politicians are a BIG NO, NO. Church leaders must be above reproach. They must never be mentioned in any kind of mischief. They cause the name if God to be blasphemed if they stray from their calling.
If you want to accompany this PF cadre and a thief disguised as a bishop to prison you are most welcome.
If M’membe and the like-minded had any thread of morality in them, they should have been calling for the ‘bishop’ to step down from his position for embarrassing the church. But alas, all we are seeing is just political theatrics.
Why asking everyone to pray with you, we were not there when he got proceeds of crime. Pray with your like minded