Laura Miti on Archbishop Banda’s ZRA Vehicle Gift
Lusaka, Zambia — Human rights activist Laura Miti has publicly questioned why Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda was gifted a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) vehicle, reigniting scrutiny around the irregular disposal of public assets that led to former ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda being jailed for six years. This situation raises critical questions for zambia.
Miti published her remarks on social media , using pointed questions to highlight what she described as the moral and governance implications of the transaction. In her post, she wrote:
“I wonder what Archbishop Alick Banda thought was a good reason for him to be gifted a ZRA car.
I mean, what was he told was the reason he had been selected to receive an asset from a public institution, he had no relationship with?
Interesting to know too, would be how the Archbishop feels about two people going to jail for unprocedurally giving him and others cars bought by taxpayers.”
Her comments came a day after the Lusaka Magistrates Court convicted and sentenced Chanda to six years imprisonment with hard labour, and former ZRA Director of Administration Callistus Kaoma to nine years, over the irregular “gifting” of 22 ZRA-owned vehicles to Patriotic Front (PF) figures and sympathisers.
During trial, testimony revealed that Archbishop Banda was among the recipients of the vehicles. Witness Sitali Mulozi, a former administration manager at ZRA and described by Magistrate Sylvia Muyinya as an accomplice witness, told the court that vehicles initially listed for internal staff tenders were deliberately withdrawn and handed to the then ruling PF for election campaigns using employees’ personal details.
Other witnesses detailed breaches of procedure. Security supervisor Emmanuel Moyo testified that on 18 September 2018, he was instructed to release six vehicles—including a Toyota Hilux, four Mitsubishi Pajeros, and a Nissan Navara—under a single name, in clear violation of auction rules. Moyo said he raised concerns but complied under Kaoma’s directives.
Former employee Emily Banda told the court she received a vehicle valued at K35,000 as a “gift” but was told to pay only K12,000 despite not qualifying for the auction. The court found that several vehicles were disposed of without board approval, not advertised publicly, and allocated irregularly.
Chanda, who appeared in court in a blue suit, reportedly listened with faint smiles as judgment began but appeared visibly shaken as the six-year sentence was read. He pleaded for leniency, citing family responsibilities and his long public service career, insisting he believed he was acting in the institution’s interest.
He was convicted on three of the 22 counts, while Kaoma was found guilty on 16 counts. Magistrate Muyinya said the disposal process was “unprocedural, unlawful, and benefited individuals outside the prescribed tender system.”
Miti’s intervention places renewed focus on Archbishop Banda, raising questions about accountability and ethical leadership. Her use of direct questions rather than statements has stirred discussion among commentators and the public on platforms like X and Facebook.
As of Wednesday, Archbishop Banda had not issued a public response to Miti’s remarks or to the renewed spotlight on the ZRA vehicle gift. The Catholic Church has also not released an official statement on the matter.
The ZRA vehicle case has been one of the most prominent corruption-related prosecutions linked to the former ruling party, touching senior public figures and politically connected individuals.
I think you’re going after a wrong person. HH and team and those tribal courts are also going after wrong people. The way you attack victims seems like you would have attacked Jews in Hitler’s Germany. You have now mastered the art of blame and attacking victims to remain in good books with the purported “Strong man” of Zambia. You know the real criminal? It is the person who illegally refused to declare his assets because he knew he will steal like no one as ever stolen before. He didn’t want you to have a point of reference in his assets after looting national coffers. Please Laura, use that big head effectively, not just affectively. You’re now abusing your talent. Think! It is free.
All presidential candidates in 2021 presidential elections declared their assets at ECZ, including HH……..
Petition ECZ to release the assets list…….
FWD2041
@HH nafilwa, your hatred is blinding you. Are you reading what PF did with assets that belong to you and I? I hope not all Zambians have the short memory you have. PF, to the extent of using the late ECL’s body, have yet again showed us their true colours with the Tonse fiasco. PF, never again.
Ba Spaka, what assets did HH declare? He must have declared at your house. What was his net worth that he declared? Why should he have declared at ECZ? Where did the speak declare her assets? Why ECZ? Ubupuba bwabu cadre has been affecting you forever. When will you change? Now you have even started lying like your president? Wow!
HH nafilwa
If you know so much , tell us what assets the late lungu declared ????……..
FWD2041
HH nafilwa
Where are you ???
Have you taken cover ???
We are waiting for you to tell us how much the late lungu declared as his assets ???
You see, sometimes when you don’t know what you know and know what you dont know, you become a liability to yourself…………..
FWD2041
Spaka, you are the same fuul who said HH declared his assets. When caught in a lie, you want divert attention to ECL. Are you out of your mind. Do you have headaches when you try to think? Why are you discussing Lungu? There was no constitutional requirement for him to declare his assets. HH has abrogated the constitution. He is required to declare. Waba bu cadre. Masendi mbuzi!
HH nafilwa
Ati there was no constitutional requirement for lungu to declare his assets ????
In 2021 all presidential candidates declared their assets to the ECZ……….
If a du.ll moron had a picture , it would have your picture………
FWD2041
@HH nafliwa one has to wonder the basis of your statement and if you bother to read up facts or just make them up to suit your whim.
The law demands at nomination all candidates declare their assets and liabilities. Do your homework before you come here show your ignorance. Learn to learn when you are wrong. Ask when you dont know. You will a better person tomorrow than today.
Ba Mulengq, show me were HH declared his assets. How much did he say he has? If you have no record and currently he is again being shielded not to declare by the AG, why do you think he should not?
chiefs and Archbishops where given vehicles by the govt. This is to help them with mobility. I don’t see anything wrong with that.
The right procedures have to be followed……
FWD2041
We tend to comment on public things disposal without understanding governing rules! Laura is a Zambian citizen who like any other Zambian is entitled to question for clarification on anything of her conscience’s concern! Criticism that is demeaning just exposes the mediocrity of one raising the criticism! Indeed what qualified Archbishop Banda that he should be gifted the vehicle?
Alick banda was, is and forever will be a PF cadre hence the decision to gift him a free car from ZRA. This is in addition to the brown envelopes he used to receive from state house.
@Razor….my thoughts exactly!
If that is true, let him stand down as Bishop and let someone committed to doing God’s work take up the calling.
We want to eat with “both hands” as sign of nothing but greed. The Vatican should spare us such individuals. Banda has a long list of accusations that seem to follow him and one has to ask how long will the Church suffer this man’s stains?
Do we need anymore proof that the Catholic Church is the religious arm of PF.
How so? Over one car? Are you that brainwashed or totally brainless? Who told you KC was PF? Are you saying all Tongas are UPND? Can we confirm that?
Why are these cows worried about a car but not Sugilite, Gold, the money from Toll Gates being shared by Milupi, HH, and Musokotwane, and the mines HH has “given”his friends but is in his name? Are so dolt we would spend our time discussing pennies when HH is looting the country to poverty?
Cows is a lable you attribute to people instead of having an objective discussion? This shows the level of thinking you have. Deflecting the issue, belittling the facts.
At law, the Bishop should have been charged with a case of being in “possession of stolen property”.
Your naivity is beneath even that. To you sin, is just something one needs to gloss over. A crime is just one of those things.
This attitude reflect the state of your own morals. Taking what is not yours is not a problem but the person you took from. Na tola fye? Kelptomanic tendancies are just something you find fine, right?
Let’s now be objective. I want to hear your naivety on this. You have not touched on the 3 names mentioned that are collecting Toll Gate charges. Those are the morals of a poor chap who go around protecting thieves who live on hilltops as you stand guard to protect their criminality but go after a car that was gifted. The Bishop did not steal and has never stolen. You all know the real thief. Ask people of Luanshya. If you really want to be angry, find out who ate ZCCMIH 51% shares supposedly sold to the Dubai guy by HH. Oh sorry, he is a friend. How do you sell shares of ZCCMIH and no one comes to ZCCMIH?
You want someone to be arrested, find out who sent $80 million ZESCO money to a China bank. Get that person arrested. Keep sleeping and keep attacking the innocent. That to you does not even linger in your BIIIGGGG head. I said head, not brain. The Bishop did not solicit or participate in a crime. You are exactly the people who are ready to call him Lucifer to satisfy your bosses. There’s no evidence the car was stolen. If it was, who reported it?