Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda was yesterday arrested and later appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court on a charge of possessing property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) formally charged and arrested Archbishop Banda after he responded to a summons and appeared before the commission.
The arrest followed a warn-and-caution statement recorded on January 5, 2026, in relation to the alleged possession of a blue Toyota Hilux, registration number ALF 7734, between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023.
Bishop Banda appeared before Lusaka Resident Magistrate Mwandu Nakazwe, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri, leading the prosecution team, informed the court that the accused in the matter was before it.
After the charge was read, Banda said he understood the allegation but denied the offence.
Defence lawyer Jeffery Chimakata subsequently applied for bail pending trial, citing Section 123 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which gives the court discretion to grant bail.
Mr Chimakata submitted that there was no likelihood that the accused would abscond, assuring that he would attend court whenever required.
In response, Mr Phiri said the State did not object to bail, provided appropriate conditions were attached.
In her ruling, Magistrate Nakazwe granted Banda bail in his own recognisance in the sum of K80,000.
She also ordered him to provide three Lusaka-based sureties, each bound in the sum of K50,000, drawn from credible institutions.
The court further directed Banda to surrender his travel documents to the DEC.
The matter was adjourned to October 14, 2026 for mention and November 3, 2026 for possible commencement of trial.
Banda is represented by John Sangwa, State Counsel, Bonaventure Mutale, State Counsel, Tresford Chali, Jeffery Chimakata and Mandela Nkunika.
Present in court to offer solidarity were Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) president Archbishop Ignatius Chama and several Catholic priests.
By press time, Banda had not yet fulfilled the bail conditions and remained in custody.
Earlier, Archbishop Chama said the due process should be allowed to take its due course without prejudice or intimidation.
In a statement, Archbishop Chama said before Banda appeared before the DEC, he had consistently spoken with courage and moral clarity, reminding the faithful and society at large of the shared responsibility to build a society rooted in integrity, unity and compassion.
He said Banda’s witness had strengthened their resolve to uphold the values of justice and peace in Zambia.
“We affirm our deep respect for his pastoral ministry and his tireless dedication to the service of the Church and the nation. In this moment, we recall the Church’s teaching that every person is entitled to fairness, dignity, and due process.
“We, therefore, call upon all concerned to ensure that these principles are upheld without prejudice or intimidation,” Archbishop Chama said.
