A viral Facebook post falsely claimed that veteran media personality and former diplomat, Ambassador Frank Mutubila said he would not die until the opposition takes power from the UPND. iVerify established that the claim is false after Amb. Mutubila confirmed the image accompanying the claim was generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and that he has not appeared on ZNBC’s Morning Live programme for years.
Claim
On 30 June 2026, various Facebook pages a post went viral on Facebook, alleging that veteran journalist and broadcaster Frank Mutubila said he was “finished but refuses to die until the opposition gets power from UPND.” The posts were accompanied by what appeared to be an image of Mutubila appearing on ZNBC’s Morning Live, giving the impression that the statement had been made during a live television interview on the national broadcaster.
Verdict: False.
The claim is fabricated. The image used in the viral posts was generated using artificial intelligence (AI), and Amb Mutubila has publicly stated that he never made the attributed remarks. He also confirmed that he has not appeared on ZNBC’s Morning Live programme for several years.
Rating Justification
The claim is rated False because it falsely attributes a political statement to Mutubila and relies on an AI-generated image presented as authentic evidence. The individual purportedly quoted has publicly refuted the claim, confirming that the image is fabricated and that the alleged television appearance never occurred. No credible evidence supports the claim.
Verification Process
iVerify reviewed the viral Facebook posts and assessed the image used to support the alleged quotation. iVerify also verified the claims with Ambassador Mutubila, who outrightly denied the claim. The verification also included an examination of a public statement issued by Mutubila on his Facebook page, Talk With Frank, in which he categorically denied the claim. In his statement, Mutubila explained that the image circulating online was generated using artificial intelligence and clarified that he has not appeared on ZNBC’s Morning Live programme for years. He further disclosed that he had reported the matter to the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority and appealed to the leadership of the United Party for National Development to help identify the administrator of the Facebook page responsible for circulating the fabricated content.
As a prominent media personality with a longstanding public profile in Zambia, Mutubila is widely recognised by audiences across the country. False claims involving well-known public figures can spread rapidly across social media, particularly when accompanied by realistic AI-generated images that may mislead users into believing the content is genuine. Such misinformation has the potential to damage reputations, distort public discourse and erode trust in authentic media content.
Mutubila also condemned the circulation of misinformation and character assassination, stating that such conduct should never be tolerated in a democratic society where truth and accountability are fundamental.
Evidence
- Mutubila’s public statement debunking the viral claim and confirming that the image was AI-generated is available here: Talk With Frank Facebook statement
Conclusion
The claim that Frank Mutubila said he would not die until the opposition takes power from the UPND is false. The image used to support the claim was generated using artificial intelligence, and Mutubila has publicly confirmed that he neither made the alleged statement nor appeared on ZNBC’s Morning Live programme as portrayed in the viral posts.
This case illustrates the growing use of AI-generated content to fabricate statements and create misleading narratives involving public figures. As AI tools become more sophisticated, it is increasingly important for the public to verify sensational claims through credible and authoritative sources before sharing them, helping to reduce the spread of misinformation and protect the integrity of public discourse.
