The Government has set out, for the first time since the arrest of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, a general position on what a cleric facing serious allegations should do: step aside. In a statement on Monday 12 October reported by Lusaka Times and News Diggers, Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, said it was advisable for clergy facing serious allegations to consider stepping aside, taking leave or relinquishing responsibilities while the facts were established — a step he described as ‘not a new or unusual principle’ and one that did not imply guilt.
The statement named no one. Mr Kawana drew a line between the Church — ‘a respected faith community with a long history of spiritual guidance, social service and national contribution’ — and individual clergy, saying a case against a cleric was ‘a matter concerning an individual’ rather than an attack on the Church, and that no one was above the law. He cited Catholic, Anglican and evangelical examples of clergy stepping aside, and said the Government would respect the presumption of innocence and apply the law impartially.
The case behind the statement
Archbishop Banda was arrested on 28 September and charged by the Drug Enforcement Commission with possession of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, Lusaka Times reported; News Diggers says the arrest is linked to a Toyota Hilux suspected of having been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority. The Archbishop is contesting the charge in court. He has not been convicted of anything, and the pieces cited here carry no statement from him or from the Archdiocese on the calls for him to step aside.
Two MPs, and a dissent
Dr Clement Andeleki, the MP for Kazungula North, said the Archbishop should not preside over Mass while the case was active, calling it ‘taboo’ for someone facing such serious charges to do so and citing the Pope’s acceptance of a San Diego bishop’s resignation after criminal charges, Lusaka Times reported. Nominated MP Noel Nkoma went further, accusing the Archbishop of embarrassing the Church and of portraying himself as a politician. Rufunsa MP Sheal Mulyata called the matter important but declined to comment further for now. The report notes that the three share the Archbishop’s faith.
Peter Sinkamba, leader of the Green Party, took the opposite view in a statement on Monday reported by Zambia Monitor. Calls for the Archbishop and other Catholic leaders to resign were premature and politically motivated, he said; automatic resignation on arrest would invite the political misuse of the justice system, could be read as an admission of guilt, and would weaken the Church’s role as a critic of state power. Under Canon 401, he argued, a bishop is urged to resign for ill health or another grave cause, and an arrest by the State does not automatically meet that standard — the Holy See can weigh any claim of persecution itself.
Ignoring calls for resignation preserves the prophetic voice of the Church.
— Peter Sinkamba, Green Party leader, in a statement on Monday 12 October, as reported by Zambia Monitor
Mr Sinkamba said the Archbishop should ignore the calls, that those making them were exercising free speech, and that if the Government’s case had merit it should start the trial. News Diggers notes that the arrest drew condemnation from some Catholics and from critics of the Government, some of whom accused the State of fighting the Church — the charge Mr Kawana’s statement was plainly written to answer.
Sources: Lusaka Times, “Government Tells Clerics Facing Charges To Step Aside As MPs Press Archbishop Banda” (13 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “Clergy facing serious allegations should step aside – Govt” (13 Oct 2026); Zambia Monitor, “Calls for Archbishop Banda’s resignation premature, politically-motivated —Sinkamba” (13 Oct 2026).