The Editor Zambia
The arrest and prosecution of Archbishop Alick Banda has placed the Catholic Church in Zambia in an uncomfortable and deeply embarrassing position.
Whatever the final outcome of his criminal case, there is now a compelling question that the Archbishop himself and the Holy See should confront: would it not be better for the Church if he voluntarily stepped aside while the matter is resolved? 
This is not a declaration that Archbishop Banda is guilty. Under the law, he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charge before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023, Archbishop Banda was in possession of a Toyota Hilux reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
The vehicle forms part of a wider investigation involving about 22 ZRA vehicles allegedly improperly disposed of.
But innocence in law and suitability for ecclesiastical leadership are not necessarily identical questions.
The Archbishop occupies a position of enormous moral authority because Catholics look to their bishops not merely for administrative leadership but for spiritual guidance, moral example, and credibility.
When a serving Archbishop is arrested, taken before a criminal court and required to defend himself against allegations involving public property, the reputational consequences inevitably extend beyond the individual.
The Catholic Church should, therefore, be asking what protects its institutional dignity and credibility.
There is also a precedent worth considering. In the United States this year, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta after he faced felony charges involving alleged embezzlement and money laundering.
Shaleta pleaded not guilty, and the Vatican’s decision did not amount to a finding of guilt. The resignation was accepted under the applicable canon-law provisions, while a temporary administrator was appointed to lead the diocese.
That case demonstrates an important principle: a resignation or temporary withdrawal from the office need not be treated as an admission of criminal responsibility.
It can instead be viewed as a measure to protect the Church, preserve confidence in its leadership, and allow the legal process to proceed without the office of bishop becoming entangled in a continuing public controversy.
Archbishop Banda’s situation is particularly unfortunate because his tenure has already seen the Catholic Church become deeply involved in Zambia’s political controversies.
His public interventions on governance and politics have frequently placed him at odds with President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development administration.
Critics of the Archbishop have long argued that his political posture has been influenced by his close relationship with the former Patriotic Front administration and former President Edgar Lungu.
Those are political interpretations, not established facts, and should not be confused with the present criminal proceedings.
It should also be noted that the Catholic Church does not need to become a political battleground over Archbishop Banda. Nor should Catholic institutions be mobilised as a shield against legitimate scrutiny by law-enforcement agencies.
The Church can provide him with pastoral and legal support while allowing the courts to determine the facts.
A resignation would also send a powerful message that ecclesiastical office carries responsibilities beyond personal interests.
It would demonstrate that no individual, however senior, considers his position more important than the reputation and unity of the institution he serves.
Archbishop Banda has every right to defend himself vigorously in court. He has every right to challenge the State’s evidence. But he should also consider whether continuing as Archbishop while the case proceeds serves the Catholic Church he has sworn to lead.
Sometimes leadership means holding on. At other times, it means knowing when to step aside.
For the sake of the Church, its credibility and the confidence of its faithful, Archbishop Banda should seriously consider doing the latter.
