A Wake-up Call for ZCCB - Guest Article

Guest contributor

During the presidency of Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I informed several Zambian colleagues that his tenure would leave behind a trail of destruction for many professionals. This destruction would affect professional integrity, and many would struggle to recover from it. If you served under President Lungu as a civil servant, lawyer, legislator, Judge, businessperson, or member of the clergy and emerged unscathed, you should sincerely thank the LORD God Almighty for your protection. It also indicates that you have passed a test and can survive even the harshest, morally degrading conditions anywhere in the world.

In light of Lusaka Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda’s appearance before the Drug Enforcement Commission to address questions regarding a donated motor vehicle, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) issued a statement of solidarity with him. Given the public disapproval that followed, it seems the ZCCB might be grappling with its conscience regarding its support. I strongly doubt that the ZCCB still holds the same moral authority it did before Lungu’s presidency. He strategically undermined the authority of church leadership in Zambia, compromising many who now find it difficult to stand firm. If you are not currently serving a jail term for corrupt activity, you likely live in fear of the law catching up with you at some point.

The ZCCB's statement in solidarity with Dr. Banda speaks volumes about the current state of Catholic Church leadership. Something significant has changed over the past decade. This shift explains why pastoral letters issued in recent years lack direction, conviction, and authority. Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has consistently given a formulaic response: “The government of the Republic of Zambia has taken note of the pastoral letter… the government is open to continued engagement through appropriate platforms to ensure collaborative problem-solving over concerns raised by the church.” This complete dismissal of pastoral letters has led to a lack of substantial public discussions, which were once common. Does the ZCCB recognize that its moral and ethical authority to prompt government reflection has diminished?

Additionally, apart from its declining moral authority—possibly due to undisclosed issues within, including Edgar Lungu’s "gifts"—the ZCCB has severely underestimated Zambians' stance against corruption. Since the era of Levy Mwanawasa, who attempted to combat corruption, Zambians have not witnessed this level of commitment to fighting it. Citizens are now observing the realization of accountability regarding the stewardship of national resources. They understand that the law will pursue anyone who violates it—and they are seeing that happen.

The summoning of Archbishop Banda to explain his connection to a Hilux vehicle owned by the Zambia Revenue Authority has instilled confidence among the public that corrupt activities will no longer be ignored. Public officials are elected to manage resources wisely on behalf of the 20 million Zambians. The ZCCB chose to show solidarity on an issue condemned by the masses. From the moment Dr. Banda was implicated in relation to the vehicle through court testimony in 2024, we expected the ZCCB to dissociate itself from this case quickly. They should have encouraged Dr. Banda to go on sabbatical, initiated internal investigations, and addressed this matter in accordance with existing canonical procedures. Instead, they waited until it attracted unnecessary public ridicule.

Finally, the ZCCB should recognize that the rise of social media has further eroded its authority. It is no longer the sole voice capable of influencing opinions. There are countless other voices out there with their own perspectives on these matters. This situation serves as a wake-up call for the ZCCB leadership, and I hope they can learn from it!