Lusaka Archdiocese Archbishop Alick Banda has been formally warned and cautioned by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged unlawful possession of a motor vehicle. This action, taken through the DEC's Anti–Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU), relates to a Toyota Hilux, registration number ALF 7734, which is suspected to be the property of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

According to DEC Public Relations Officer Allan Tamba, Archbishop Banda is suspected to have been in possession of the vehicle between April 22, 2021, and December 27, 2023. The vehicle is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from ZRA, constituting an offense contrary to Section 319(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Tamba noted that when given the opportunity to explain his possession of the vehicle, Archbishop Banda chose to remain silent.

The appearance before the DEC on Monday morning, January 5, 2026, was preceded by a significant public spectacle. Archbishop Banda, supported by hundreds of Catholic faithful, Law Association of Zambia representatives, and opposition political figures, first attended a solidarity Mass at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus. During the hour-long service, prayers were offered for him to find strength as he prepared to face authorities.

Following the Mass, His Grace, dressed in clerical robes, led a prayerful procession on foot from the Cathedral at Pope Square to the DEC headquarters in Lusaka. Worshippers clutched rosaries, sang hymns, and recited Catholic prayers, transforming the city streets into a moving display of faith, protest, and symbolism. The procession was joined by leaders from various opposition parties, including the Patriotic Front (PF), Socialist Party, Green Party, and Democratic Union Party, alongside senior legal practitioners and Catholic laity, blurring the lines between religious solidarity and political mobilization.

As the group neared the DEC offices, they encountered a heavy police presence. Officers intercepted the procession, allowing only the Archbishop, three priests, and three lawyers — including vocal constitutional lawyer John Sangwa, Jonas Zimba, and State Counsel Sakwiba Sikota and Makebi Zulu who were seen negotiating access — to proceed inside. The rest of the faithful remained stranded, some kneeling and continuing their prayers aloud despite police instructions to disperse. Reports indicated some worshippers defiantly questioned police orders to leave “in the name of the President,” highlighting growing tensions between state authority and public expressions of faith.

Inside the interrogation room, Archbishop Banda maintained his silence, declining to answer questions regarding the alleged ZRA Toyota Hilux, which he reportedly received as a gift during the Patriotic Front administration. The interview lasted nearly an hour. Meanwhile, outside, police dispersed a separate group of opposition cadres who attempted to force their way into the DEC premises. The situation was brought under control without incident or injury.

Upon emerging from the DEC offices, Archbishop Banda and his legal team declined to comment to waiting journalists, choosing silence. He then walked back to the Cathedral with his supporters, this time without the hymns, prayers, or recitation of the rosary that had marked the initial procession. Earlier, Lusaka Archdiocese Vicar General Father Andrew Simpasa had framed the Archbishop’s appearance as an act of obedience to both church teaching and civic duty. The solidarity followed a directive issued by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka for priests to read a message from the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) during Sunday Masses, calling for unity and prayer for the Archbishop.

The events at the DEC, observed under intense public and media scrutiny, transcended the immediate legal questions surrounding a motor vehicle. They underscored deeper national undercurrents concerning the intricate relationship between church and state, the perceived politicization of accountability institutions, and the potent role of religious symbolism amidst political tension in Zambia’s evolving democracy.