By Brian Matambo | Lusaka, Zambia

A growing section of the Catholic faithful has announced plans to accompany Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on Monday, in what supporters describe as an act of solidarity with their spiritual leader amid heightened tensions between the State and the Catholic Church.

In a strongly worded statement circulating widely, members of the Catholic laity said the Archbishop “will not walk alone” to the DEC, declaring their intention to stand with their “Shepherd” as he responds to the summons issued by the anti-graft body. The statement frames the moment in deeply religious language, likening the Archbishop’s appearance before the DEC to a symbolic “Calvary” and invoking Christian imagery of bearing the cross.

Supporters argue that the planned accompaniment mirrors past political practice, pointing to occasions when Hakainde Hichilema, prior to becoming President, appeared before law enforcement agencies accompanied by large numbers of his supporters. They contend that the same latitude should be extended to a church leader, insisting that fairness and equal treatment must apply across political and religious divides.

The statement also draws on Christian scripture, invoking the Golden Rule as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which instructs believers to treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves. Supporters say this principle should guide both the conduct of State institutions and the public discourse surrounding the Archbishop’s summons.

Particular offence was taken at remarks attributed to the DEC leadership, in which those planning to accompany the Archbishop were allegedly referred to as “cadres.” The faithful rejected the label, arguing that worshippers and lay church members cannot be equated to partisan political activists. “When did the faithful become cadres?” the statement asks, describing the characterization as insulting and dismissive of religious identity.

The call to action urges Catholics and “Zambians of goodwill” to turn out in large numbers on Monday, dressed in their various Catholic lay group uniforms, to demonstrate peaceful support for the Archbishop. The appeal stresses that the gathering is intended as a show of faith and solidarity rather than confrontation, with organisers pledging to attend regardless of weather conditions.

The statement was signed by Fred M’membe, who identified himself as a member of the Catholic Men’s League at St Peter’s Parish in Lusaka’s Garden Compound.

The Drug Enforcement Commission, led by Director General Nason Banda, has maintained that the summons of Archbishop Banda is a routine investigative step and that no individual is above the law. However, the mobilisation of the Catholic faithful underscores the growing sensitivity of the matter and signals that what began as a legal inquiry has evolved into a broader national debate touching on faith, power, and the relationship between the State and the Church.

As Monday approaches, attention will be focused not only on the Archbishop’s appearance at the DEC, but also on how authorities manage the presence of his supporters and whether the episode further deepens an already strained relationship between government institutions and one of Zambia’s most influential religious bodies.