Anti-corruption police arrested a Zambian Catholic archbishop on Monday, the authorities said.
Alick Banda, Archbishop of Lusaka since 2018, arrest centres on a vehicle reportedly given to him by late former president Edgar Lungu.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which also covers money-laundering and financial crimes, said the Toyota Hilux was “reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority”.
Banda denied the charges and was released on bail ahead of his trial scheduled for November.
The archbishop was an outspoken supporter of the main opposition challenger in the August election that handed President Hakainde Hichilema a second term.
News of his arrest prompted Catholics to gather for prayers at Lusaka’s biggest cathedral.
Several opposition figures have been arrested since the August 13 election, including the main opposition candidate Brian Mundubile.
