UPND says Archbishop Banda does not represent Catholic Church
The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has stated that Archbishop Alick Banda does not speak on behalf of the Catholic Church as an institution, arguing that his recent remarks and the controversy surrounding his summons to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) should not be interpreted as an attack on the church.
In a statement responding to public debate, UPND officials said the Archbishop was expressing personal views and should not be conflated with the official position of the Catholic Church. The party stressed that Zambia remains a country that respects freedom of religion and the autonomy of religious institutions.
UPND representatives said concerns raised following the Archbishop’s summons had been mischaracterised, warning against what they described as attempts to portray the situation as a confrontation between the state and the Catholic Church.
According to the party, Archbishop Banda was invited by the DEC in his individual capacity, and the process should not be politicised or framed as institutional persecution. UPND said law enforcement agencies have a mandate to summon individuals when necessary and that such processes should be allowed to proceed without political escalation.
The party further stated that religious institutions should not be dragged into political disputes, arguing that doing so risks polarising society and undermining social cohesion. UPND officials said Zambia’s democracy depends on maintaining clear boundaries between personal opinions, political discourse, and institutional representation.
UPND also emphasised that the Catholic Church is made up of many leaders and structures, and that no single cleric speaks for the entire institution unless formally mandated. The party urged the public to distinguish between individual commentary and official church positions.
Addressing concerns about intimidation, UPND said the presence of law enforcement officers should not automatically be interpreted as harassment or suppression of free speech. The party reiterated its commitment to constitutional freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
UPND officials also cautioned opposition political parties and activists against using the situation to mobilise political support, arguing that doing so risks inflaming tensions unnecessarily.
They said the government has no interest in undermining the church or restricting civic space, adding that Zambia has a long tradition of cooperation between the state and religious institutions.
The party urged citizens to remain calm and allow legal processes to unfold, stressing that respect for institutions is essential for national stability.
UPND concluded by calling for responsible public discourse, warning that sensational framing of the issue could damage trust between institutions and the public.
UPND
Experts at splitting their opposition. First they split PF-buying off Miles, Now they want to split the Catholic Church into anti-Banda pro bishop factions. Politics at the expense of the people???
Please leave that story for blind people.What value can Miles Sampa add to any organization such as UPND?You chaps are just good at talking and lying to the public. PF was just a criminal government if you ask me.Stop misleading people please.Alick Banda received stolen money and a Car from a grouping of thieves.
Ba LT your intro is confusion. Re-edit it and repost it. Deal thoroughly with the Who? aspect of your profession in that intro
President calls a catholic priest from Chawama a joker when he advised against graphs, followed quickly by his SG calling archbishop Banda a lucifer. We expected dialogue there after to settle the scores, but instead we rush to Tanzania to go and call for dialogue there among Tanzanias and their leaders.
Another blind chap who doesnt know that Zambia imports and exports always go throug Tanzania.HH was called in to engage two parties, the current government and the opposition party to find a way to bring peace to the country through bilateral diplomacy and negotiations. It was about the two sides recognizing that achieving mutually acceptable outcomes requires both parties to make concessions and be flexible in their approach. He was called in to resolve the conflict and promote cooperation based on mutual interests particularly in international relations as Tanzania is also our trade partner as well.Not all priests did economics and understand graphs.Banda `s behaviour does not help the check,You can call him Satan if you want,He is not a saint, just a human being like you and me
The people in power are literally becoming a joke