The Life of Archbishop Alick Banda is in Danger -Archbishop Ignatius Chama
…President Hakainde Hichilema is using State Apparatus to threaten, humiliate and persecute Archbishop Alick Banda…
President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Archbishop Ignatius Chama has reiterated the Bishops’ concern over the harrasment and persecution of Lusaka Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda.
He was commenting over the matter where a gift given to Archbishop Banda had issues and was returned a longtime ago but became a subject of criminal investigations and the summoning of summoning of Dr. Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
Speaking on Lutanda Radio in Kasama, Archbishop Chama stated that the Conference recognised that there were deep-seated political differences between President Hakainde Hichilema and Archbishop Alick Banda.
But he also recognised that President Hichilema had sadly fashioned an environment where he has desired the removal of Archbishop Banda, a matter that has affected the well-being of the entire Church.
He said President Hichilema, as head of state, had at his disposal state institutions that could be used or abused to victimise his perceived rivals.
Archbishop Chama stated that in this scenario, the environment favoured President Hichilema who was using state apparatus to victimise, humiliate, and persecute Archbishop Banda as seen on 5th January 2025.
He regretted that this scenario had even threatened the life of Archbishop Banda and become fodder for their plot against him.
He feared that there was no one available to tell President Hichilema that this scenario was harmful to the well-being of the country.
He emphasised that life was sacred and cannot be threatened in the manner where Archbishop Banda’s life was being treated over political differences as life was made in the image if God.
He gave an example of biblical Abel whose blood was shed without cause by Cain except out of jealous.
He said the Church had hoped that these perceived personal differences would never result in harming the people and faithfuls under the Archdiocese of Lusaka.
He called for dialogue to resolve this matter.
“When elephants fight, its the grass that suffers”
Ba Chama, you are in the same group as AchBishop Banda instigating a revolution against the Republican President of Zambia. I can rest assure you not all Catholics are supporting your plan to set this country ablaze. Inkondo in this country will be started by
some of the Catholic Church leaders. Its not all Catholics that hate our President its just a few individuals.
You have rightly put it. It’s some catholic ‘priests’ who fueled the Rwandan genocide. Such are not God’s servants but Satan’s agents. That Alick Hilux Banda is jail-bound. The concerned vehicle wasn’t a gift but a proceed of crime in which this fake archbishop was intricately involved. But he has continued to exhibit foolish arrogance.
How has the narrative changed today? I thought it were the Archbishop Alick Banda who was threatening the President. For example he issued three threatening statements saying;
a. Hakainde is playing with fire.
b. Zambia may slide into blood bath.
c. We have put our country into jeopardy.
Unless there’s another case that we don’t know, otherwise a case over the Hilux is not a case to threaten someone’s life for. Bishop Alick Banda has lived freely in this country and I believe even now he is free citizen of this country.
Let it be. If he doesnt take care of himself, who does he think will do? Maybe Ignisius Chama cares. But Alick was sure he was making enermies. So he asked for it.
“Archbishop Chama stated that the Conference recognised that there were deep-seated political differences between President Hakainde Hichilema and Archbishop Alick Banda.”
Reading within the line, he acknowledges that his friend Alick Banda has become political, which is what people have been saying altogether. So who is misusing his position? Clearly, it’s the Archbishop; he has moved into the political arena, and he is not supposed to be. So if he is a politician, he can’t expect to be treated otherwise.
Just a reminder most men of cloth who join politics end up losing. Examples are abound, just look around. Others are now living on handouts. The Christian faith in Zambia is diverse. The Catholic is just one of them. A composite of the others is even lager than the Catholics, besides, not all of the Catholics support what Alick is doing. Actually, looking at his behaviour when he was walking to DEC when nuns were shouting “ilenda ilepya”, clearly this man has political ambitions and must be treated as such immediately. Ati the gift had issues, what issues wena masipa. Actually the loudest clergy have plenty skeletons in their closets.
“Ileenda ilepya” is a saying attributed to Mr. Sata, if I recall correctly. For the nuns to use it during this match exposes the political nature of the confrontation. This was a PF crowd not Catholic.
How can there be deep rooted political differences? Are you confirming that Alick Banda is a politician?
When law enforcement agencies give a ‘Warn and Caution’ to someone, it signals that there is a prema-facie case and the next step is to effect an arrest of the accused. The DEC gave Archbishop Alick Banda a warn and caution. So, Archbishop Chama should know by now that Archbishop Alick Banda has a serious criminal case. There is no need to involve the Church.
He’s associated to thieves, so its appropriate to ask him some questions, period. He may be one of the thieves and he’s not above the law
You steal a car from gabvament.
They ask you questions.
Ati your life is in danger?
Bulali schyopet.
If this is the calibre, the level of integrity of so called religious leaders, these misleaders should just go into farming.
Stop portraying this PF cadre and thief as a victim. If anything the Catholics should start disassociating from him like a leaper. He has brought the catholic church name into disrepute.