The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has joined calls for Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda to step away from his position until the criminal case he is defending is concluded. The union says church leaders facing court proceedings must act to protect public confidence in their institutions.
The labour movement adds its weight to a widening list of voices on the matter. Catholic-aligned Members of Parliament, among them Nominated MP Noel Nkoma, Kazungula North MP Clement Andeleki and Rufunsa MP Sheal Mulyata, have already called on the Archbishop to step aside. House of Clergy Zambia and the Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) have since taken similar positions.
Archbishop Banda faces a charge of possession of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. The Drug Enforcement Commission arrested him on 28 September 2026.
ZCTU president Blake Mulala said leaders of religious institutions should be seen to uphold high moral standards. In his view, they should consider stepping aside whenever they face investigations or court proceedings.
“In many churches, leaders facing investigations or court cases are expected to step aside on moral grounds until the matter is concluded. As an overseer of the church, it is important to maintain public confidence and integrity,” Mr Mulala said in Lusaka.
The union leader said the Catholic Church should be guided by its own doctrines and disciplinary procedures in deciding how to handle the matter. Church leaders, he added, should remain above reproach while carrying out their pastoral responsibilities.
House of Clergy Zambia took a similar line, grounding its position in the rule of law. National executive director Reverend Jimmy Ng’ambi said accountability applied to all citizens, regardless of position, profession or religious office.
“As a matter of integrity, wisdom and institutional responsibility, it may be appropriate for a member of the clergy facing serious legal proceedings to voluntarily step aside while the legal process takes its course,” Rev Ng’ambi said.
The cleric drew a firm line between the individual and the institution, saying holding religious office does not exempt anyone from personal responsibility.
“No one is above the law, accountability is not persecution, and a legal case involving an individual cleric is not a battle against the Church,” he said.
Rev Ng’ambi described the Church as an important partner in national development, peacebuilding and moral guidance. He said legal proceedings involving a cleric should not be misread as an attack on Christianity or an attempt to undermine the Church’s role in society.
He was careful to stress that a step-aside would not amount to an admission of guilt. The call, he said, was neither a declaration of guilt nor a legal requirement, but a position based on integrity and the need to safeguard the Church’s standing.
A temporary withdrawal, the House of Clergy leader said, would also stop the case from being portrayed as a confrontation between Government and the Church. He urged citizens to exercise restraint, avoid premature conclusions and respect the presumption of innocence throughout the process.
AVAP national director Richwell Mulwani said his organisation supported calls for the Archbishop to temporarily relinquish his duties until investigations were concluded. He acknowledged, however, that the final decision did not rest with outside groups.
“As AVAP, we feel it would be acceptable for Archbishop Banda to step aside while the matter is being addressed. However, the Catholic Church has its own rules and procedures and it is up to the institution to determine the appropriate course of action,” Mr Mulwani said.
He said the Church should reach its decision in line with its doctrines, while respecting the legal principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Not every voice has joined the call. The Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) urged caution, saying the matter should be handled fairly and without prejudice. Executive director Boniface Muyunda said any call for the Archbishop to step aside should respect both the rule of law and the autonomy of the Catholic Church.
University of Zambia lecturer Professor Bizeck Phiri described the situation as complex. He pointed out that the Catholic Church had not publicly indicated that Archbishop Banda should step aside. The Church, he said, has established doctrines and procedures for matters involving members of the clergy and should be allowed to decide the way forward.
Government has set out its own position. Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana has distinguished between the Church as an institution and individual members of the clergy, with Government reaffirming that no person is above the law, whatever their position or religious office.
The case remains before the courts, where the Archbishop is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a full defence. Most of those calling for a step-aside have stopped short of demanding one. Several have left the final word to the Catholic Church, which has not publicly announced any change to the Archbishop’s duties.
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