A Facebook post falsely claimed that Chief Government Spokesperson Thabo Kawana announced that the Zambian government would shut down internet services from July to 30 August 2026 because of social media activity by supporters of opposition politicians. iVerify Zambia found no evidence that such a statement was ever made, and the Permanent Secretary has dismissed the claim as false.
Claim
On 13 July 2026, the Facebook page Zambia Music Latest published a post alleging that the Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary and Chief Government Spokesperson, Thabo Kawana, had announced that the Zambian government would shut down internet services nationwide from July until 30 August 2026. The post further claimed that the alleged shutdown was intended to stop youths supporting National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) candidates Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu from abusing social media ahead of the August 2026 General Election.
We have removed the original Facebook post containing the false claims to avoid further amplifying false and misleading congent.
Verdict: FALSE
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia found no evidence that Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana made the statement attributed to him.
As part of the verification process, iVerify Zambia contacted Mr. Kawana directly. He categorically denied issuing the alleged statement and confirmed that the Facebook post was false.
Mr. Kawana explained that official government communication on matters of national importance is disseminated through established Ministry of Information and Media communication channels, including official press releases, media briefings, the Ministry’s website, and its verified social media platforms—not through unofficial Facebook pages.
A review of publicly available official government communications also found no announcement indicating that the Government of Zambia intends to suspend or shut down internet services between July and 30 August 2026.
Fact-Checking Process
To verify this claim, iVerify Zambia:
- Identified and reviewed the original Facebook post making the allegation.
- Contacted Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Mr Thabo Kawana for clarification.
- Reviewed official communication channels of the Ministry of Information and Media for any announcement regarding an internet shutdown.
- Compared the claim with available official records and found no supporting evidence.
Conclusion
The claim that the Zambian government plans to shut down internet services from July to 30 August 2026 is false. There is no official announcement supporting the allegation, and Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana has expressly denied making the statement attributed to him.
False claims of this nature can create unnecessary fear, undermine public trust, and fuel misinformation during an election period when citizens rely heavily on digital platforms to access information, engage in public debate, and participate in democratic processes. Members of the public are encouraged to verify claims about government policies through official government communication channels and other credible sources before sharing them.
Help Fight Misinformation
Have you seen a suspicious claim, image, video, or social media post? Send it to iVerify Zambia for verification via WhatsApp: +260 762 974 750 or email factcheck@panos.org.zm. Together, we can help stop the spread of misinformation and protect the integrity of Zambia’s information ecosystem.
