Simuuwe defends due process, says case involves individual, not Church
United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuuwe has defended the government’s position regarding investigations involving Archbishop Alick Banda, arguing that the matter concerns an individual and not the Catholic Church as an institution, and should be allowed to proceed strictly within the confines of the law.
Simuuwe said public debate surrounding the matter has blurred an important legal distinction between institutional responsibility and personal accountability, stressing that law enforcement agencies are constitutionally obligated to investigate matters brought before them, regardless of the individual involved.
He explained that the investigation relates to a vehicle whose ownership, according to official government records and the White Book, is registered in the name of Alick Banda as an individual, not in the name of the Catholic Church or any of its institutional structures. Simuuwe argued that this distinction is central to understanding why the matter is being treated as a personal legal issue rather than an institutional confrontation.
According to Simuuwe, allowing the law to take its course should not be interpreted as hostility toward the Church or its leadership. He maintained that Zambia remains a Christian nation with deep respect for religious institutions and that the current administration harbours no animosity toward the Catholic Church or the broader Christian community.
Simuuwe said due process exists precisely to protect individuals, including clergy, from arbitrary judgment. He argued that if Archbishop Banda has committed no wrongdoing, the legal process will exonerate him, after which the matter should naturally come to a close.
He cautioned against framing routine investigative procedures as persecution, warning that such interpretations risk undermining public confidence in state institutions and the rule of law.
Simuuwe also stressed that the UPND government does not equate criticism or investigation of an individual clergy member with an attack on Christianity. He said Zambia’s Christian identity is anchored in values of truth, justice, and fairness, which are reinforced, not weakened, when lawful processes are respected.
He further noted that the law makes no exemption for public figures, regardless of their moral standing or social influence, and that equality before the law remains a cornerstone of democratic governance.
Simuuwe said government has consistently upheld freedom of religion and freedom of expression, adding that churches remain free to speak on social, economic, and governance matters without interference.
He argued that portraying the investigation as an assault on Christianity risks internationalising a domestic legal matter unnecessarily, when the facts point to a straightforward question of ownership and legal responsibility.
Simuuwe said once the courts or relevant investigative bodies conclude the matter, the country should move forward without lingering suspicion or division.
He urged citizens to exercise patience, restraint, and confidence in legal institutions, stressing that national unity is best preserved when disputes are resolved through established legal channels rather than public confrontation.
