Archbishop Alick Banda warned and cautioned over alleged ZRA vehicle

The Drug Enforcement Commission has confirmed that it has warned and cautioned Archbishop Alick Banda as part of ongoing investigations into his alleged possession of a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle linked to the Zambia Revenue Authority.

In a statement issued through its Public Relations Office, the Commission said the matter is being handled by its Anti Money Laundering Investigations Unit and relates to a motor vehicle bearing registration number ALF 7734, which investigators reasonably suspect may have been unlawfully obtained. The investigation covers a period between April 2021 and December 2023.

According to the Commission, the investigation is anchored on Section 319(a) of the Penal Code, which deals with possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. The Commission stated that the warn and caution procedure was conducted to formally inform the Archbishop of his rights and to give him an opportunity to explain how he came into possession of the vehicle.

The Commission further disclosed that when given an opportunity to explain how he assumed possession of the Toyota Hilux, Archbishop Banda chose to remain silent. DEC said investigations remain ongoing and that the public will be updated regarding the outcome at an appropriate time.

Earlier in the day, Archbishop Banda appeared at DEC offices in Lusaka after concluding mass at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus. He arrived at around 10:20 hours in the company of his lawyers, opposition political leaders, and Catholic faithful who had gathered to accompany him.

The interrogation reportedly lasted about two hours, after which Archbishop Banda returned to the Cathedral of the Child Jesus together with his legal team. His lawyers did not disclose athe outcome of the interview to the media.

During the procession to DEC offices, police officers led by Lusaka Province Deputy Police Commanding Officer Ronald Zambo described the gathering as illegal and urged sympathisers to disperse. Police maintained a visible presence as the group moved through parts of the city.

Earlier, a mass service was held at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus at Pope Square to show solidarity with the Archbishop. The service was attended by scores of Lusaka residents, including several opposition political leaders. Among those present were Socialist Party President Fred M’membe, United Liberal Party President Sakwiba Sikota, National Democratic Congress President Saboi Imboela, and Patriotic Front presidential hopefuls.

In his homily during the mass, Archbishop Banda spoke about persecution in religious service, stating that those who suffer for their service to God will be reunited and find joy in Jesus Christ. His remarks were delivered before he proceeded to DEC offices.

DEC has since clarified that recording a warn and caution statement is a standard legal procedure used during investigations. In legal terms, a warn and caution means a person is formally informed of their rights and warned that anything they say may be recorded and used as evidence. The procedure does not amount to a finding of guilt but allows investigators to document a person’s account of events.

The Commission emphasised that the process marks an early stage in investigations and that conclusions can only be reached once inquiries are completed. DEC said the investigation remains active and that updates will be provided once appropriate.

By Lusaka Times Reporter

We briefly caught up with Brian Mundubile as police officers moved in to disperse church sympathisers who had gathered near the Drug Enforcement Commission following the appearance of Archbishop of Lusaka Dr Alick Banda.

At the time of reporting, police were surrounding the roundabout near the High Court and issuing fresh instructions to push the crowd further away from the area. Mundubile was seen moving quickly as officers advanced, before getting into his vehicle and leaving the scene.

Speaking moments before his departure, Mundubile described the developments as unfortunate, stating that the gathering was peaceful and not political in nature.

He said the group largely comprised priests, nuns, and other church members who had escorted the Archbishop earlier in the day.

“This is a very peaceful crowd, predominantly of priests, nuns and other church members who may have escorted a bishop to D.E.C,” Mundubile said. “For the police to deploy this amount of force, where are our freedoms? We have freedom of movement and freedom to associate.”

According to Mundubile, the group had walked peacefully from the cathedral to the commission offices and was already dispersing when police began intervening.

“The parishioners, nuns and other priests were on their way back, but the police are now harassing them,” he said. “So when we say there is an attack on the church, this is exactly what we mean.”

As police continued to move the crowd further away from the roundabout near the High Court, Mundubile questioned the necessity of the operation, maintaining that the gathering posed no threat to public order.

“This is not a political crowd,” he said. “It is a very peaceful crowd.”

When asked how he hoped the situation would unfold, Mundubile said he expected the government to handle the matter with objectivity and maturity as questioning of the Archbishop continued.

He said he hoped President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration would exercise restraint, warning that continued confrontations involving the church could have broader implications for the country.

“If there is continued action perceived as an attack on the church, that is not good for the country,” Mundubile said.

At the time of reporting, police had not issued a public explanation for the decision to disperse the gathering. No incidents of violence or arrests were observed.

The developments unfolded as Archbishop Banda was being questioned by the Drug Enforcement Commission, amid heightened national attention over public order, freedom of assembly, and church-state relations.

An Archbishop’s  Long Walk to D.E.C, may be A wrong Walk to 2026 Polls for UPND

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lusaka, Dr Alick Banda, is currently being interviewed by the Drug Enforcement Commission in a development that has rapidly evolved into a defining political moment rather than a routine investigative appearance.

The Archbishop arrived at DEC premises accompanied by his legal team, including lawyers Jonas Zimba, Lungisani Zulu, and John Sangwa, all of whom were seen being granted access by police officers stationed at the entrance. Security around the premises was visibly tightened as the interview commenced.

Outside the offices, police restricted access to several political figures who had converged at the scene. Among those blocked were Socialist Party leader Dr Fred M’membe and Patriotic Front acting president Given Lubinda. Their exclusion, juxtaposed with the controlled entry of the Archbishop’s lawyers, heightened public attention and reinforced the sense that the proceedings carried broader political significance.

The mood around the DEC offices is sober but electric. While no public disorder was recorded, the atmosphere reflected a nation acutely aware that the moment may resonate far beyond the confines of a single investigation. For many Zambians watching closely, the Archbishop’s walk into DEC has taken on symbolic weight, interpreted by some as a “Long Walk to DEC” and by others as a potentially consequential “Wrong Walk to the Polls 2026 for the UPND Government.”

At the heart of the matter is a motor vehicle linked to Archbishop Banda, around which sharply competing narratives have emerged. Claims circulating in public discourse suggest that the vehicle was donated by the Zambia Revenue Authority or the government, allegations that have been strongly disputed.

A zambian Hopewell Chin’ono has publicly rejected those claims, stating that available documentation points to a private transaction rather than a state donation. According to Chin’ono, the vehicle was acquired through a Zambia Revenue Authority auction by a private individual, Mulopa Kaunda, acting in his personal capacity. He has stated that Kaunda later donated the vehicle to Archbishop Banda, who subsequently registered it in his own name.

Chin’ono has further indicated that a receipt of sale and a gate pass authorising the release of the vehicle after payment by Kaunda have been made public. The gate pass, issued by the Zambia Revenue Authority, is said to confirm that the vehicle was released following a completed auction process, contradicting assertions that it originated as a government or institutional gift.

Despite these explanations, the issue has expanded beyond the vehicle itself, becoming entangled in wider political and institutional tensions. Figures aligned with the ruling party have portrayed Archbishop Banda as sympathetic to former president Edgar Lungu. At the same time, voices within the Catholic Church have accused President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration of targeting or persecuting the Archbishop.

These accusations are closely linked to Archbishop Banda’s past criticism of the administration and his opposition to recently enacted constitutional changes. The changes include proposals affecting constituency delimitation, an increase in parliamentary seats by 113, and the removal of term limits for mayors.

As a result, what began as a question surrounding the ownership and disposal of a vehicle has shifted into a broader national moment touching on church-state relations, the exercise of law enforcement authority, and political tolerance. some citizens argue that facts have been eclipsed by partisan positioning, while defenders of the process insist that the law must apply without exception.

Yet for a significant section of the public, today’s developments are being assessed less through legal technicalities and more through their political consequences. With the 2026 general elections approaching, many Zambians are weighing how such moments shape trust in institutions, the political climate, and the perceived neutrality of the state.

As Archbishop Banda’s interview continues, the country watches closely. Whether this moment is remembered as a necessary step in upholding accountability or as a misjudged escalation with electoral consequences may ultimately be decided not at DEC, but at the ballot box.