DEC Invitation Not Attack on Church

Rev. Lungu urges restraint, warns speculation threatens peace and religious harmony

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24  -- (3-01-2026) ---The Evangelical Youths Alliance (EYA) has dismissed claims that the Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) invitation to Catholic Archbishop Alick Banda is an attack on the Church, warning that politicising or sensationalising the matter risks undermining Zambia’s peace, religious harmony, and respect for the rule of law.

Speaking in Lusaka at Media briefing on Saturday, EYA President Moses Lungu said the DEC invitation should be understood as a routine investigative procedure and not an accusation of wrongdoing against the Archbishop or an assault on the Catholic Church, as some public commentary has suggested.

Lungu cautioned that reckless statements—particularly on social media—were needlessly stirring religious sentiments and creating tension within the Christian community. 

He said such speculation diverted public attention from facts and due process to unfounded narratives capable of destabilising national cohesion.

“This is neither a political battle nor a religious conflict. It is a legal matter that must be allowed to proceed without interference,” Lungu said, adding that Zambia’s commitment to fighting corruption was grounded in respect for due process and the authority of investigative institutions.

He said the Evangelical Youths Alliance had confidence in the DEC’s professionalism and rejected assertions that the commission was acting under political influence. According to Lungu, the law applies equally to all citizens, without fear or favour, and investigative agencies must be permitted to carry out their mandates independently.

The EYA leader further warned against dragging the entire Church into the matter, stressing that the DEC invitation was directed at an individual and should not be interpreted as hostility toward the Catholic Church. 

He emphasised that there was no hatred or hidden agenda against Archbishop Banda.

Lungu noted that the public did not know the content of the interview sought by the DEC and said any claims circulating online should therefore be treated as speculation. 

He added that, in some instances, investigative agencies seek clarification on administrative or procedural issues, including matters related to asset acquisition or transfer, and such processes do not automatically imply criminal intent.

He said the Church’s role at this stage should be to promote calm and prayer rather than confrontation. 

“As Evangelical youths, we are committed to praying for the Archbishop and encouraging sobriety, peace, and unity within the Christian fraternity,” Lungu said.

Beyond the immediate issue, Lungu said the situation offered an important lesson to the clergy, urging church leaders to exercise caution when receiving gifts or gestures, particularly from political figures or sources whose origins are unclear. 

While acknowledging that churches are not prohibited from receiving support, he warned that accepting questionable gestures could compromise moral authority and expose religious institutions to public scrutiny.

He observed that some clergy had increasingly normalised soliciting or accepting such gestures without adequate scrutiny, a practice he said was inconsistent with the ethical demands of the Gospel.

The Evangelical Youths Alliance concluded by calling on the public, religious leaders, and political actors to desist from sensationalism, respect national institutions, and allow lawful processes to take their course, warning that unnecessary drama only threatened peace and unity.