By 
Prominent lawyer, John Sangwa, and academic Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa, have accused President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration of lobbying the Vatican for the removal of Lusaka Catholic Archbishop, Dr. Alick Banda.
In a letter dated December 30, 2024, addressed to Apostolic Nuncio Gian Luca Perici, the duo expressed concern over what they described as an escalating campaign to discredit Archbishop Banda.
They alleged that the government had approached the Pope with the intention of having the Archbishop removed from his position.
The letter highlighted the significant role the Catholic Church has played in promoting social justice and democratic governance in Zambia since independence in 1964.
It emphasized that the Church’s financial independence had allowed its leaders to speak openly on matters of national concern.
“Archbishop Banda continues to fulfil his responsibilities by highlighting critical governance failures that impede the upliftment of the Zambian people, as did his predecessors,” Sangwa and Sishuwa stated.
They noted that successive Zambian presidents had often clashed with the Catholic Church, employing strategies such as creating divisions within the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and orchestrating smear campaigns against outspoken clergy.
The duo alleged that President Hichilema had perpetuated this trend since his election in 2021 by targeting vocal bishops, including Archbishop Banda, in an effort to diminish the Church’s influence ahead of the 2026 general election.
Sangwa and Sishuwa claimed that President Hichilema had made direct appeals to the Vatican for Archbishop Banda’s removal, including during a 2022 visit to Rome.
“President Hichilema requested the Holy See to remove Archbishop Banda and reinstate retired Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu, arguing that the circumstances leading to Archbishop Mpundu’s resignation were no longer relevant,” they alleged.
The letter called on the Vatican not to yield to what the authors described as government maneuvers against Archbishop Banda, praising the cleric for his courage in addressing governance shortcomings.
“We urge the Holy See to stand firm and not participate in actions aimed at silencing a voice that has consistently championed justice and accountability,” the duo stated.
The Zambian government has yet to respond to the allegations.
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