- Clergy call on Archbishop Banda to temporarily leave pastoral duties
FANNY KALONDA
Lusaka
THE House of Clergy Zambia has backed calls for Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda to temporarily recuse himself from active pastoral duties while he defends himself in ongoing legal proceedings.
House of Clergy national executive director Jimmy Ng’ambi said the move would help protect the integrity and credibility of the Church and prevent the matter from being portrayed as a confrontation between Government and the Church.
In an interview, Reverend Ng’ambi said religious leaders should be held accountable under the law regardless of their positions, stressing that holding a 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 said the Church remains an important partner in national development, peacebuilding and moral guidance, but individual members of the clergy should be prepared to account for their actions under the laws of Zambia.
He said legal proceedings involving a cleric should not be misconstrued as an attack on Christianity or an attempt to undermine the Church’s role in society.
Rev Ng’ambi added that clergy facing serious legal proceedings should consider voluntarily stepping aside from certain responsibilities until their cases are concluded to preserve public confidence in religious institutions.
“We further believe that, as a matter of integrity, wisdom, and institutional responsibility, any member of the clergy facing serious legal proceedings should recuse themselves or voluntarily step aside from certain responsibilities while the legal process takes its course,” he said.
He described this as the position of the House of Clergy Zambia, emphasising that temporarily stepping aside would demonstrate institutional responsibility rather than constitute an admission of wrongdoing.
Rev Ng’ambi specifically called on Archbishop Banda to recuse himself from certain responsibilities for the duration of the legal process. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home