Minister says DEC summons targets individual, not the Catholic Church

Minister says DEC summons targets individual, not the Catholic Church

Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu has rejected claims that the government is targeting the Catholic Church, saying the summoning of the Archbishop of Lusaka by the Drug Enforcement Commission is a routine law-enforcement process directed at an individual and not at the church as an institution.

Briefing the media, Mwiimbu said there was no motive for the state to target the Catholic Church, stressing that he himself is a Catholic and a law-abiding citizen. He said suggestions that the government is hostile to the church are unfounded and do not reflect the actions or intentions of the state.

The minister said appearances before law-enforcement agencies by prominent public figures are not new in Zambia and should not be interpreted as persecution. He cited past examples of senior national leaders who had been called to account by law-enforcement bodies, including former presidents Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda and the current Head of State, Hakainde Hichilema, who appeared before the police on several occasions before assuming office.

Mwiimbu said the fact that a prominent individual is summoned by a law-enforcement agency should not be treated as unusual or alarming, adding that such processes are part of the country’s accountability framework. He said this applied equally to church leaders, noting that the Archbishop of Lusaka is not the first senior church figure to appear before law-enforcement agencies, either in Zambia or elsewhere.

According to the minister, when individuals holding leadership positions in churches are called to account, they do so in their personal capacities and not on behalf of their institutions. He said accountability in such cases has nothing to do with targeting a church and should not be presented as such.

Mwiimbu said the government remains committed to upholding and respecting the rights of all individuals. He added that when any individual is suspected of having breached the law, they are required to account for their actions in accordance with legal procedures, regardless of their position or standing in society.

Addressing concerns surrounding the scheduled appearance of Archbishop Banda, the minister said the call-out by the Drug Enforcement Commission is a routine process applied to anyone accused of violating the law. He stressed that the summons does not imply guilt and should not be interpreted as a judgment on the Archbishop.

He said the purpose of the appearance is for the commission to hear the Archbishop’s side of the story so that the matter can be concluded. Mwiimbu said it was therefore unfair for anyone to suggest that the government is targeting the Catholic Church, when the issue concerns an individual responding to allegations.

The minister also referred to international examples where senior Catholic clergy have faced legal processes, including cases involving bishops and cardinals outside Zambia. He said such actions do not amount to churches targeting themselves but reflect the principle that individuals are answerable in their personal capacities.

Mwiimbu further assured the nation that the government has no intention of interfering with a prayer meeting called in support of the Archbishop. He said the church would freely exercise its right to pray and that no one would interfere with religious activities.

He said the police would only provide the necessary security arrangements to ensure public order and national safety, stressing that maintaining peace and stability remains the responsibility of the state. Mwiimbu thanked members of the public for their orderly conduct during the festive period and said the security situation in the country remained stable.

The minister also said the government is open to dialogue with the church on issues of national interest. He said the President had received a proposal for dialogue from the church and looked forward to engagement, in line with the government’s position that dialogue remains the appropriate way to address national concerns.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mwiimbu reflected on past incidents when President Hichilema was summoned by the police while in opposition. He said previous administrations had insisted that the President could not appear before law-enforcement agencies accompanied by supporters, citing legal and regulatory provisions.

He recalled instances where opposition supporters were dispersed when they accompanied the President to police appearances, including the use of tear gas. Mwiimbu said the law had been clear on the issue of escorts and gatherings around police call-outs, and that these principles continued to guide the conduct of law-enforcement agencies.

He said the government’s position remains that accountability processes should proceed in an orderly manner, without creating situations that could compromise public safety. Mwiimbu said the police would act within the law and provide security as required, while ensuring that individual rights are respected.

The minister said he briefed the nation to clarify the government’s position, calm public anxiety and address what he described as misplaced fears that the state was acting against the Catholic Church. He said the government remains committed to maintaining peace, protecting constitutional rights and engaging stakeholders through dialogue.