The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has confirmed that Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda has been summoned to appear before the commission next Monday in connection with investigations surrounding a Toyota Hilux allegedly received from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
The development follows a high-profile case in which former ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda and another senior officer were recently jailed for failing to follow legal procedures in the disposal of 22 government vehicles.
According to court proceedings that led to Mr Chanda’s conviction, the court heard that Archbishop Banda received one of the Hilux vehicles that formed part of the improperly disposed fleet.
Speaking to journalists, DEC Director General Nason Banda confirmed the summons, stating that the Archbishop has been mentioned in the ongoing investigations and that the commission is following standard procedure.
“It is true that we have summoned him. When there is a case we are investigating, there are procedures we have to follow. Nobody is above the law,” Mr Banda said.
He emphasized that the matter is not politically motivated, dismissing claims circulating on social media suggesting otherwise.
“This case has been running for some time. We seized vehicles in this matter and some people have already been convicted. We issue a call-out as a starting point, asking you to come because you have been mentioned in a particular case,” he explained.
Mr Banda further expressed concern that the call-out document was leaked to social media, noting that such notices are meant to remain confidential.
“We want to hear his side of the story. The sad thing is that when we issue a call-out, it is a private document addressed to a specific person,” he said.
He reiterated that the investigation is being conducted independently and without bias, adding that his personal religious affiliation has no bearing on the case.
“The summoning is not political. The Hilux is here — one of the vehicles was found with Archbishop Alick Banda. We operate in our own time and space. I am a Catholic myself and His Grace is my Archbishop, so there is nothing political,” Mr Banda said.
