By Rev. Peter K. Nsama
16 October 2026
A Prophetic and Pastoral Word on Justice, Power and the Soul of Zambia
There comes a moment when a nation must stop clapping for its party and start asking for its Constitution. That moment is now.
Jay Jay Banda is in custody. The police say he is “alive and kicking.” But Zambia has not been told how he left Mozambique. No extradition order. No deportation paper. No SADC stamp. Only three vehicles at 19:30, a man on a phone, and twelve hours of silence from Home Affairs.
If it was lawful, prove it. If it was legal, publish it. In a democracy, you do not capture first and look for the law later.
Listen to me: Article 18 says every Zambian deserves a fair hearing. Article 20 says every Zambian can speak. Those Articles do not expire because a man is rude, unpopular, or from a village.
Jay Jay Banda must answer. If he attempted murder, let him answer for attempted murder. If he robbed, let him answer for robbery, in court. With a lawyer. Not on Facebook Live. Not through humiliation. Not through spectacle.
And I say this to my own people: insult is not freedom. Freedom does not give you a licence to demean a President, mock a tribe, or curse a life. I do not defend abusive tongues. I defend due process.
But hear me, Mr President: your strength will never be measured by how many critics your security can apprehend.
Your strength will be measured by how much criticism you can tolerate without abandoning the law.
You have more power. Therefore, you have more responsibility to show restraint. You cannot build a confident nation on a frightened civil service.
You cannot build One Zambia on an intimidated opposition. You cannot build One Nation when citizens feel that disagreeing with Government puts their lives and jobs at risk.
Criticism is not treason.
So tonight, my appeal is simple:
- Show us the law. How was he returned? Tell the nation.
- Show us the man. Bring him before a competent court, with a lawyer, now. Not next week.
- Stop the hunt. Stop the talk of “sweeping arrests” and “examining phones.” Stop retiring civil servants in the “national interest” for no offence. Let the police serve the Constitution, not the party.
Mr President, history does not remember leaders for how much power they used.
History remembers them for how much restraint they showed when they had all the power.
Zambia does not need a fearful opposition. Zambia does not need an intolerant Government.
We need courage without recklessness. Authority without oppression. Justice without revenge.
The State must never become the predator of the children it was created to protect.
May God give our leaders wisdom. May God give our citizens courage. May God give Zambia justice over vengeance.
One Zambia, One Nation.