I AM A DEVOTED CATHOLIC, BUT ARCHBISHOP DR. ALICK BANDA NEEDS TO DO AN INTROSPECTION. THIS IS MY HONEST VIEW @20:00HRS
Apart from preaching the Word of God, the clergy has an undeniable responsibility to advocate for the people. This includes speaking on social issues that affect the lives and dignity of citizens, politics included. The Church does not exist in isolation from society; it exists within it.
Speaking on national matters on behalf of the people is what is commonly referred to as advocacy. Advocacy is not partisan activism. It is the deliberate effort to influence positive change by speaking and acting in defence of a cause or of the people, especially where injustice, poor governance, or harmful policies arise.
In this sense, the clergy has both a moral and social duty to offer counsel to government, particularly when leaders go astray or when policies threaten the well-being of citizens. When done correctly, such engagement strengthens democracy and promotes accountability for the common good. 
However, advocacy has a clear object: the improvement of people’s lives. It must be principled, balanced, and people-centred. Crucially, it must be non-partisan.
Church leaders must not be politically biased. They should never be seen to favour one political party or leader over another. The moment a church leader openly aligns with a political faction, they cease to be moral referees and instead become political players while still using the pulpit.
This compromises their core mission as preachers of the Gospel and inevitably alters how they are perceived by society and political actors alike. In many cases, respect is lost.
Political bias within the Church also has damaging internal consequences. Followers become divided, some agreeing with the political preference of their church leader, others strongly opposed.
This division breeds controversy within congregations and spills into the public domain. Once debates erupt, the church leader himself becomes the subject of public scrutiny, often discussed in ways that are neither dignified nor respectful.
At that point, political activists inevitably step in, some to defend themselves, others to defend or attack the church leader. What should have been moral advocacy quickly degenerates into political chaos. The Church loses its unifying voice, and the message is drowned in noise.
This, regrettably, is what is currently unfolding in the Archdiocese of Lusaka due to the perceived political bias of Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that Archbishop Banda should refrain from engaging in matters of governance or national concern. On the contrary, such engagement is necessary. However, it must be advocacy, not political alignment.
In my view, and I stand to be corrected, Archbishop Banda’s interventions do not reflect advocacy. Advocacy identifies a cause, speaks for the people, and proposes constructive engagement. What we largely see instead is persistent negativity toward the Government, without clearly articulated people-centred causes.
Notably, genuine advocacy is usually backed by the people. Yet in Archbishop Banda’s case, his public positions are consistently championed by the Patriotic Front remnants and other opposition figures.
Even in the current controversy, it is opposition propaganda machinery that has rushed to his defence, framing legitimate questions as persecution rather than addressing the substance of the concerns raised by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
Archbishop Alick Banda has repeatedly demonstrated political bias by openly associating with certain political leaders and parties while distancing himself from others. On numerous occasions, he has spoken in favour of specific opposition political groupings. It would not be unfair to conclude that his public posture aligns him squarely with opposition politics.
This bias was made unmistakably clear in his circular of 25th November 2025, where he warned that “Truth be told, the presidency is playing with fire.” Such language goes beyond advocacy and enters the realm of political confrontation.
Outside the pulpit, most of Archbishop Banda’s public engagements are directed against the Government and President Hakainde Hichilema.
Whenever there is a clear divide between the Government and the opposition, Archbishop Banda predictably sides with the opposition, as was evident during the controversy surrrounding the burial of former President Edgar Lungu.
These are the issues I will be discussing tonight at 20:00 hours.
