False claims that independent parliamentary candidate Austin Liato was murdered are unsupported. Official information states that he died after an illness on 6 August 2026 at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka.
Claim
A Facebook page called Chililabombwe Lates and Good News published a post on 7 August 2026 claiming that Austin Liato, an independent parliamentary candidate for Nkeyema Constituency, had been murdered by unknown people. The post further alleged that Mr Liato had received death threats because he was contesting the August 2026 General Elections as an independent candidate.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify fact-checked the claim and found it to be false and unsupported by the available evidence.
An official statement issued by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Patrick K. Kangwa, indicated that Mr Austin Liato, aged 60, died after an illness on Thursday, 6 August 2026, at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka. The official statement does not attribute Mr Liato’s death to murder, an attack, or any other form of foul play. It specifically states that he died after an illness.
iVerify also found no official statement from the Zambia Police Service indicating that Mr Liato was murdered or that his death was being investigated as a homicide. There is similarly no credible evidence linking his death to his decision to contest the election as an independent candidate.
The Facebook post therefore makes a serious allegation of murder without providing credible evidence to substantiate it.
Conclusion
The claim that Austin Liato was murdered by unknown people after receiving death threats over his decision to contest the election as an independent candidate is false. The official account states that the 60-year-old independent parliamentary candidate died after an illness on 6 August 2026 at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka. No official police statement or other credible evidence has been identified indicating that he was murdered or that his death was politically motivated.
The Facebook post therefore presents an unsubstantiated account of Mr Liato’s death as fact.
The claim is particularly concerning in an election period, when false reports of political violence or targeted killings can fuel fear, suspicion and political tension. Members of the public are encouraged to verify sensitive claims about deaths, violence and alleged political attacks through credible and official sources before sharing them.
Evidence
- Official statement from the Secretary to the Cabinet
The Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Patrick K. Kangwa, issued an official statement confirming the death of Austin Liato. The statement said Mr Liato, aged 60, died after an illness on 6 August 2026 at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related claims, especially reports of deaths, violence or political attacks, check whether the information comes from credible and official sources. If you come across a suspicious claim, image or video, submit it to iVerify Zambia for verification and help promote accurate public conversations.
