Catholics in Zambia Encouraged to Pray Fervently as Archbishop Summoned by Government Authorities

The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka is linked with investigations into allegations that he received a vehicle from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), which allegedly auctioned several vehicles without following the law.

In his homily, Bishop Chisanga pointed to the possibility of “certain deliberate maneuvers” in Bishop Banda's summoning, adding that the move could be “the beginning, God forbid, of worse things to come.”

The member of the Order of Friars Minor recalled that the early followers of Jesus also faced interrogation, persecution, and even martyrdom for speaking the truth in His name.

He continued, “The boldness of Peter and John and the other followers of Jesus, when they spoke the truth in the name of Jesus, made the authorities unhappy.”

He said that had the followers of Jesus decided to be afraid and remain silent, the Gospel would not have spread.

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“When Paul converted, he was in and out of interrogation centers and even detained, and he eventually ended up in Rome, where he was killed for that one mission, which continues up to the present day’” the Catholic Bishop said.

In his January 5 homily, Bishop Chisanga, who began his Episcopal ministry in February 2014, called for tolerance of divergent views, respect for institutions and individuals, and openness to dialogue as essential elements for national growth and development.

“Not everyone will support everything. Some may want to see things from a different perspective, and that is important for growth and development,” he noted. 

He went on to clarify that the Catholic Church has no political ambitions, saying, “Being a Priest or Bishop is more than enough. One would not aspire to anything greater than being given the privilege of caring for the flock of God in the name of Jesus.”

The Zambian-born Catholic Church leader also cautioned against sensationalism, urging media practitioners to seek authentic information and to clearly distinguish personal opinions from the official position of the Church.

“It is important to get authentic information and to protect yourselves by clearly declaring that what may be expressed are the views of those interacting with the station, not the official position of the Church,” the Bishop said.

On the summoning of Archbishop Banda and his appearance before the DEC on January 5, Bishop Chisanga emphasized, “On this particular matter, Zambians and the people of this nation are free to express their opinions. That is fine, as long as we do not lose the respect due to individuals, to the government as an institution, and to the Church.”

“May this summoning of Archbishop Banda not lead to confusion in our nation, but rather to greater understanding and a calling toward peace and unity, so that we may manifest our faith and give the honor due to You, our God,” he said during the January 5 Mass, which was also held in spiritual solidarity with the Local Ordinary of the Lusaka Metropolitan See.

Meanwhile, members of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) have described the summoning of their colleague as “state- sponsored persecution” of the entire Church in the southern African country.

In their statement of solidarity on Sunday, January 4, the Bishops said that the summoning is an attempt to suppress the Archbishop’s voice as a Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Lusaka and a member of ZCCB.

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Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.