AMECEA: Archbishop Banda’s Process Needs to Be “Fair, Transparent, Free from Political Considerations,” Says AMECEA Chairman

Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), called for a fair and transparent legal process following the September 28 arrest of Archbishop Alick Banda of Lusaka, Zambia. In a letter of solidarity dated October 1 addressed to Archbishop Ignatius Chama, president of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, Nyaisonga stated that the proceedings must be free from political considerations and respect the dignity of the Archbishop and his sacred office.

Nyaisonga noted that the Eastern Africa bishops received news of the arrest with deep concern and expressed that AMECEA cannot remain silent when a fellow bishop is arrested. He requested that Archbishop Banda be granted the presumption of innocence and that the facts presented by Zambian bishops be given full weight. Nyaisonga clarified that the bishops' solidarity does not place any individual above the law or prejudge the court proceedings.

The Zambian bishops previously held an extraordinary meeting on September 30 to appeal for a commitment to human dignity. During that meeting, they stated that political interests, party loyalty, ethnic identity, or the exercise of power cannot justify violating human dignity or taking innocent life.