In a statement on Tuesday, November 3, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka said that the trial did not proceed because the State prosecution team handling the case was unavailable.
“The case in which Archbishop Alick Banda is charged with being in possession of a Toyota Hilux suspected to have been unlawfully obtained has been adjourned to Friday, 6th November 2026. The trial was scheduled to commence today but did not proceed as the State prosecution team handling the matter was unavailable,” the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka said.
Archbishop Banda appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on October 14 for a mention in a case involving alleged possession of property reasonably believed to have been unlawfully obtained. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Archbishop of Lusaka appeared before Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on September 28 and was reportedly charged with the offence.
According to the DEC, the charge concerns a blue Toyota Hilux, registration number ALF 7734, which Archbishop Banda allegedly possessed between 22 April 2021 and 27 December 2023. The vehicle allegedly belonged to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and is suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The DEC says the vehicle forms part of a wider investigation into approximately 22 ZRA vehicles allegedly disposed of improperly.
The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court granted Archbishop Banda K80,000 (us$4,000.00) bail in his own recognizance on September 28, requiring three working sureties, each bound in the sum of K50,000 (US$2,250.00). The court also ordered him to surrender his travel documents.
He spent the night of September 28 at Chimbokaila Correctional Facility after the bail process was not completed in time for his release.
A September 30 report confirmed that he had been released after meeting the bail conditions.