Claim
On 2nd June 2026, a Facebook page called The Candidates published a post alleging that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media (MIM), Mr. Thabo Kawana, had warned churches against hosting National Revolution Party United Party (NRPUP) leaders, Mr. Brian Mundubile and Mr. Makebi Zulu, without first obtaining police permits, or risk having their church licences revoked.
The post further claimed that churches would be required to seek police clearance at least three days before Sunday services if the two politicians were expected to attend.
The claim was also widely shared on several other Facebook pages.
Verdict: False
iVerify Zambia has determined as False the claim published by The Candidate Facebook page, alleging that Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary Mr. Thabo Kawana warned churches not to host National Revolution Party United Party (NRPUP) presidential aspirant Mr. Brian Mundubile and his running mate in the August 2026 General Elections without first obtaining a police permit.
There is no evidence that Mr. Kawana made such remarks. Furthermore, the Ministry of Information and Media has publicly dismissed the claim, describing it as false and misleading.
Rating Justification
To verify the claim, iVerify Zambia engaged the Ministry of Information and Media, which referred us to an official statement issued through its communication channels addressing the matter. In the statement released on 29 May 2026, the Ministry categorically dismissed reports circulating on social media and some online platforms claiming that Mr. Thabo Kawana had directed churches to obtain police permits before hosting opposition political leaders.
The Ministry stated that:
- Kawana did not make any statement warning churches against hosting Mr. Brian Mundubile or Mr. Makebi Zulu.
- He did not threaten the withdrawal or cancellation of church licences.
- Any document, message, or graphic attributing such remarks to him was fabricated.
- The misinformation was deliberately created and circulated to mislead members of the public.
The Ministry further urged citizens to rely on official government communication channels when seeking information relating to public policy or statements attributed to government officials.
Conclusion
Based on the available evidence and the official statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Media, the claim that Permanent Secretary Mr. Thabo Kawana instructed churches to obtain police permits before hosting Mr. Brian Mundubile and Mr. Makebi Zulu is false.
No credible evidence exists to support the allegation, and the Ministry has publicly refuted it. The claim appears to be part of a broader misinformation narrative that was amplified through multiple social media pages despite lacking factual basis.
As Zambia approaches the 2026 General Elections, citizens are encouraged to verify politically sensitive information through credible and official sources before sharing it. Repetition does not make a claim true, and fact-checking remains a critical tool in preventing the spread of misinformation.
The appearance of the same claim across multiple Facebook pages, often using identical or nearly identical wording, suggests a coordinated effort to amplify the narrative and increase its visibility. This pattern is commonly associated with misinformation campaigns, where repeated publication across different platforms creates the impression that a claim is credible or widely confirmed when it is not.
False claims involving public institutions, religious organisations, and political actors can contribute to confusion, mistrust, and unnecessary tension, particularly during an election period.iVerify Zambia also notes a pattern in which The Candidate page has repeatedly published content that has later been found to be misleading or false, underscoring the need for heightened scrutiny when engaging with information from such sources.
Evidence
Ministry of Information and Media rebuttal statement: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XuzAPUN6/
