Police earn rare praise from Mwila for restraint during Archbishop’s DEC appearance
ANXIOUS hearts were calmed yesterday as Zambia Police opted for restraint when Lusaka Archdiocese Archbishop Dr Alick Banda appeared before the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), a posture that has earned rare praise from opposition-inclined lawyer Simon Mwila.
Mwila, said many Zambians watched the Archbishop’s appearance with clenched jaws, not because the cleric should be above the law, but because past encounters between citizens and law enforcement during politically sensitive moments have often ended in blood and tears.
However, unlike the dark chapters many still carry in memory, police officers yesterday chose a different script.
There were no baton charges, no trigger-happy scenes and no unnecessary use of force as officers maintained order while the situation threatened to boil over.
According to Mwila, instructions were issued, lines were drawn and the tense moment was managed without spiralling into the kind of disorder that has previously left families counting coffins by nightfall.
He said it was impossible to view yesterday’s conduct without being dragged back to the Patriotic Front era when policing of public and political events was synonymous with fear.
Mwila recalled the deaths of Mapenzi Chibulo, a young woman shot dead during political unrest, and Nsama Nsama Chipyoka, a public prosecutor whose life was cut short in circumstances that, he said, should never occur in a country governed by law.
“These were not statistics but human beings. Families were shattered and trust in institutions was deeply damaged,” Mwila noted.
He said for that reason, the conduct of the police during Archbishop Banda’s DEC appearance deserved acknowledgement.
Before availing himself to the DEC headquarters over a Toyota Hilux he dubiously received as a gift from his PF comrades back in 2021, Archbishop Dr Alick Banda with the help of opposition leaders rounded up scores of supporters and gathered them in the Cathedral of the Child Jesus for a solidarity mass where they prayed for him to find strength as he faced the authorities.
After the hour-long service, the priest, dressed in a black clerical robe and a purple zucchetto (hat), led his supporters on foot to the DEC offices, singing hymns and reciting the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer as they marched towards the premises of the commission.
However, as the procession neared the DEC offices, police officers intercepted the group and only allowed the Archbishop, three priests and three lawyers, leaving the rest of the faithful stranded along the road.
When approached by journalists for a comment after the DEC appearance the Archbishop remained mute.
By George Musonda
Kalemba, January 6, 2026
Then the message the President and the current administration has spread has been heard. Why then do the Opposition seek to defy this trend and taunt the administration and the law?
What purpose did the Opposition and the clergy serve in the march? When you follow the law, no one will bother you. You seem to want to dare the law. What do want to get in response? Get attention like a spoilt child who thinks they are above the law? Lets act like adults. You cant seem to want to be center of attention by making the most noise and think donors and the rest of the world will support this immature display of disregard for the well being of the rest of Zambians? There are millions of Zambian who voted for this government expect that their needs will be at the forefront of the issues that need to be solved. Not this immature “cry baby display antics that we see from a Senior Clegy who can not explain where the money in his posession; reported came from, pet alone the car that belonged to ZRA.
My understanding of what you seek to know is that birds of the same feather flock together. They are are team. Regardless of the truth in this issue they are resolved to stick together. That is why the law is approaching the matter carefully. Eventually the real person at fault will answer the question whether they like it or not.
…and I heard women shouting ati ilenda ilepya. Where those nuns. But modern day Christianity, a Bishop is strapping and followers are shouting ilenda ilepya..inshi iyoyine?
Give them enough rope to hang themselves. It is good the police chose the way of peace not confrontation.
In the last regime, Mr. Kapyongo would have issued a warning and what would have followed woukd have been a bloodbath.
The police are slowly turning into a Police Service from the Police Force (PF) that they were under Mr. Lungu’s watch. We still have some way to go before they are a fully fledged Police Service, especially the traffic department which exhibits strong predatory tendencies and seems to exist for the sole purpose of making money from the hapless motorist.
Kikikiki
Laughable Article.
The issue is not Police Conduct, or going into Archives over what happened during the PF government on UPND demonstrations. That’s secondary. It’s a digression.
The issue is the summoning of Archbishop Dr Alick Banda to the DEC offices over the Toyota Hilux.
Hakainde started the process with no idea of the end game he sought.
You can’t start something with Propaganda as the end goal!
Hakainde’s Minions and Praise Maniacs are now in a state of confusion and trying to change the focus..to the procession!
You called the Archbishop Dr Alick Banda to DEC offices because you claim you have evidence that the vehicle was illicitly obtained.
The ZRA is still there. Witnesses at ZRA are there.
Arrest, Charge and take Dr Alick Banda to Court for illicitly obtaining the vehicle.
The Ball is in Hakainde’s Court.
Unfortunately the narrative you seek to advance does not add up. Remember what happened when faith Musonda was arrested. The same hype which is illogical was seen. What was the end result? Where was all the defence of rightful ownership taken to.
See guys when a wrong is committed the right thing to do is keep quiet and humble yourself so that it adds to your advantage for mercy. Don’t become pompous with the people that have the case against you in black and white.
Arrogance is just a trap you dig so that the law can accordingly deal with you. This sad issue should have been quietly dealt with. But instead , the so called loud mouthed crew sought it expeditent to blow the trumpet of a case that is bad towards the bishop leaving us all shocked as to why the man of the cloth was so desperate for this bad gift which has now left some workers in jail.
What really is to celebrated about issue.
Shameful that a man of God is caught up in an irregular issue of a government vehicle. Even worse that he can not depend of mere truth to defend him. Instead he relies on his best friend the politicians to try and creat confusion over something he benefited all by himself.
It is clear for all of us to see where his alligence lies. They say check the people someone constantly hangs out with and then you can determine the real character of a person.
It is most unfortunate that no one is properly advising the Bishop. These politicians will run away from him soon and will leave him to dry as Truth shows itself strong.
We have seen them do this thing over and other again. That’s who they are. Yeat again what can the bishop do this is the legitimate circle of friend.
Unfortunately in this case integrity and trust is very difficult to return and command with people once they lose confidence in you due to such issues.
When all the noise dies down, and everyone else goes back to their own homes and doing the own business, the same issue will remain gaining more momentum than ever before because truth has been unwisely challenged.
Lets us now see who is willing to stand in the witness stand to give evidence. This will surely come because the amicable route has been poorly handled. Let all who spoke loud and vehemently please come out and give this man his next game plan. He will surely needed.
The main question to answer at the end of the day is how and why was the car found to be in his name? We know PF facilitated it. What this government wants to know is why was the law broken to do this.
Why didn’t they do it transparently. Just openly buy him a brand new car from Toyota and gifted him for instance. Why the hiding and illegality? This can not go answered by the way. In the court of law it will be demanded to be responded to. This drama has just taken a new twist which was unnecessary.
This is what is very concerning. Dark corner suspicious crafted deals that disadvantage rightful participants. I really don’t even understand why some people are supporting the Bishop over this issue. Have you become too used to stealing such that you have forgotten what being a law abiding citizen means.