Claim
On 25 June 2026, a Facebook post published by The Candidates alleged that South African advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, acting on behalf of the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, had initiated a criminal case against individuals accused of abducting Lungu’s body and removing body parts. The post further claimed that the matter implicates Zambian Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, officials at the Zambian Embassy in South Africa, and members of the South African Police Service. It also alleged that Ngcukaitobi would personally prosecute those accused.
Fact Check
iVerify Zambia found no evidence supporting the claim that Edgar Lungu’s body was abducted or that any body parts were removed. Further, there is no credible evidence in the public domain including court filings, police records, official statements, or reputable media reports, indicating that Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has filed a criminal case or announced any intention to personally prosecute individuals in connection with such allegations. A review of available reporting from South African and Zambian authorities, as well as statements attributed to the Lungu family and Ngcukaitobi, shows no confirmation of the claims made in the Facebook post.
Fact-Checking Process
To assess the claim, iVerify Zambia:
- Reviewed the Facebook post published by The Candidates.
- Searched for official statements from the Lungu family, South African authorities, Zambian authorities, and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi.
- Examined available media reporting on the handling of Edgar Lungu’s remains.
- Checked for any court filings or police records in South Africa relating to alleged corpse tampering or abduction.
Rating Justification
The claim is unsupported by any verifiable evidence. No court records, police reports, or official statements confirm allegations that Edgar Lungu’s body was abducted or mutilated. There is also no evidence that Advocate Ngcukaitobi has initiated or intends to personally prosecute criminal proceedings against Mulilo Kabesha, Zambian Embassy officials, or South African police officers. The Facebook post relies on unnamed sources and provides no documentary proof to substantiate its allegations.
Conclusion
The claim published by The Candidates is false. There is no publicly available evidence supporting allegations that Edgar Lungu’s body was abducted, that body parts were removed, or that Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has launched or intends to personally prosecute a related criminal case. Claims of this nature require strong, verifiable evidence from official or judicial sources. In this instance, none has been provided.
Evidence Reviewed
- No confirmation of body-part removal found in available media reports or official statements.
- No court filings or police records support the allegations.
- No verified statements from Tembeka Ngcukaitobi support the claims.
- The Facebook post relies on unnamed and unverified sources.
