Archbishop Banda Pleads Not Guilty, Granted Bail

By Hannock Kasama

Lusaka Catholic Archbishop ALICK BANDA has pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a motor vehicle reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

Dr. BANDA took plea before Lusaka Resident Magistrate MWANDU NAKAZWE SAKALA.

The court has granted Dr. BANDA 80,000 Kwacha bail in his own recognizance, with three working sureties bonded in the sum of 50,000 Kwacha each in their own recognizance.

Particulars of the offence are that between April 22nd, 2021 and December 27th, 2023, Dr. BANDA allegedly possessed a blue Toyota Hilux motor vehicle, registration number ALF 7734.

The motor vehicle is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA.

Earlier, DEC Public Relations Officer ALLAN TAMBA confirmed Dr. BANDA’s arrest in an interview with journalists at the DEC headquarters in Lusaka.

Mr. TAMBA said the motor vehicle allegedly possessed by Dr. BANDA forms part of wider investigations involving approximately 22 ZRA vehicles allegedly improperly disposed of, resulting in the conviction of other individuals.

Prior to his arrest, Dr. BANDA was interrogated this morning following a summons issued by DEC.

The summons followed a warn-and-caution statement recorded from Dr. BANDA on January 5th, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Police Service has described the operation that culminated in Dr. BANDA’s arrest as incident-free.

Police Spokesperson GODFREY CHILABI told journalists in Lusaka today that police barricaded some strategic roads this morning as a measure to deter possible unlawful assembly.

Mr. CHILABI thanked motorists in Lusaka for complying with the directive not to use the barricaded roads.

He reiterated that the Zambia Police Service will continue to discharge its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order.