PAGOZ defends Bishop Banda, rejects claims over opposition leaders’ handover

The Council of Bishops of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia has defended its Presiding Bishop, Professor Joshua H.K. Banda, against what it describes as misrepresentation, inflammatory rhetoric and personal attacks.

In a statement issued on 7th September 2026, the Council says recent criticism surrounding Bishop Banda’s participation in an assignment involving two opposition political leaders at the United Nations premises has been misleading.

The Council says the assignment was a collective responsibility of the eight Church Mother Bodies, following engagement by the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It says the Church’s role was limited to facilitating the safe and dignified transition of the two opposition leaders from the United Nations premises to their legal representatives.

The Council says the two opposition leaders were not handed over to police by the Church, but were formally handed over to their own legal representatives.

It has further rejected claims that the assignment was a personal political undertaking by Bishop Banda or the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia.

The Council says Bishop Banda participated as a senior Church leader in a collective ecumenical assignment and has its full support in carrying out his national and ecumenical responsibilities.

It has also called on political actors, media practitioners and members of the public to base public discussions on verified facts and reject misinformation, insults and inflammatory rhetoric.

The Council has reaffirmed that PAOGZ and Northmead Assembly remain non-partisan Christian spaces and says the Church will continue to promote peace, reconciliation and national cohesion.