MATHEWS MALAZIKA
Lusaka
ALICK Banda, the Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka who is facing criminal allegations in connection with a motor vehicle he allegedly received from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), yesterday elected to remain silent when questioned by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
However, Drug Enforcement Commission still recorded a warn-and-caution statement from the cleric.
Earlier, before proceeding to the DEC headquarters for interrogation, a solidarity prayer meeting was held at Cathedral of the Child Jesus.
The bishop then walked from Cathedral of the Child Jesus—about 2.5 kilometres away—accompanied by a horde of prayer-chanting church members and some opposition political leaders.
Notable among the political leaders who accompanied the bishop were Given Lubinda and Brian Mundubile of Patriotic Front, and Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe.
But after about two hours of interrogation, Bishop Banda decided to remain silent. And even after emerging from the offices, he had no words for the prying journalists who waylaid him.
Bishop Banda, who arrived at the DEC head office around 10:00 hours, was accompanied by his lawyers, John Sangwa, Jonas Zimba and Lungisani Zulu.
Police had formed a cordon about 300 metres from the DEC entrance, preventing the crowd from proceeding, and allowed entry only to representatives from the church and lawyers representing the bishop.
DEC public relations officer Allan Tamba later issued a statement that the commission would update the nation regarding the outcome of the investigations at an appropriate time.
Bishop Banda is accused of having unlawfully received a Toyota Hilux, property of ZRA.
The matter dates back to April 2021.
Reacting to the development, Centre for Sustainable Democracy and Governance (CSDG) executive director Caroline Katotobwe said that by deciding to remain mute during the interrogation, the archbishop missed an opportunity to exonerate himself from the matter.
“He would have done better to respond to the allegations levelled against him. DEC granted him an opportunity to clear his name,” she said.
In an interview, Ms Katotobwe said silence may sometimes not provide clarity on issues of national interest.
Further, Ms Katotobwe hailed both police and DEC officers for managing the crowd that accompanied Bishop Banda well…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
