Zambia: lawyer stands by criticism of Archbishop Banda
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
A Zambian lawyer close to the ruling party says he does not regret his post criticising Archbishop Alick Banda over his disputes with the government. He says he was removed from his parish Men’s League commissioning programme after the post, according to a statement published by the Zambian Observer.
Zambian lawyer McQueen Zaza stands by his criticism of Archbishop Alick Banda and says he does not regret a Facebook post challenging the Catholic Church’s involvement in the prelate’s disputes with the government. He wrote that personal disagreements should be resolved without drawing the entire Church into a political conflict, according to the statement published by the Zambian Observer.
Zaza says the executive committee of his parish Men’s League asked him to suspend his commissioning programme, a ceremony recognising and committing members to the organisation, because Archbishop Banda was due to commission him. He says he must wait for the next session and considers the decision a penalty for expressing his opinion.
The lawyer accuses the committee of using the Church’s authority against someone expressing a different view. He says the episode raises questions about tolerance and freedom of expression, while criticising Alick Banda for demanding that the government accept divergent opinions without applying the same standard to his critics.
The comments come as Archbishop Alick Banda faces legal proceedings in Zambia, after his trial was set for 3 November 2026, as announced in the setting of his trial date. They also follow a priest’s public criticism of internal opposition to Archbishop Alick Banda, published on 20 October.
