African bishops express solidarity with Zambia’s arrested Archbishop Banda

Catholic bishops across Africa have expressed solidarity with Archbishop Alick Banda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka following his arrest by Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission. In a message issued October 1, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), said the organization learned of the investigations with great concern.

The legal proceedings involve a vehicle allegedly obtained unlawfully from the Zambia Revenue Authority. Archbishop Banda has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops clarified that the archbishop is not accused of involvement in the alleged disposal of the vehicle, which was surrendered to the state in December 2023.

Cardinal Ambongo urged Zambian institutions to follow the law and respect human dignity to ensure the proceedings contribute to truth and justice. He also appealed to Catholics in Zambia to remain calm, united, and prayerful. This support comes as Zambian bishops recently raised concerns regarding arbitrary arrests, the presence of military personnel in civilian areas, and the use of excessive force following elections in August.