A social media post claimed that Caritas Zambia was paying voters in Muchinga Province, particularly in Mpika and Kanchibiya, to vote against the UPND. iVerify Zambia found the claim to be false. Caritas Zambia Executive Director Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga dismissed the allegation as fabricated, explaining that the organisation had neither the funding nor the intention to pay voters or influence their political choices. He said such conduct would be contrary to Caritas Zambia’s principles and that the organisation does not engage in vote buying.
Claim
A social media post shared by United Party for National Development (UPND) Consultant Oliver Sepiso Shalala on 16 August 2026 claimed that Caritas Zambia, a Catholic organisation, was paying voters in Muchinga Province, particularly in Mpika and Kanchibiya, to vote against the UPND.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia verified the claim and found it to be false. In an interview with iVerify Zambia, Caritas Zambia Executive Director Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga dismissed the allegation as baseless and unfounded. Fr. Mapulanga explained that Caritas Zambia does not have funding to pay voters or influence their political choices. He added that the organisation did not even have the resources to independently monitor the 2026 General Election and was only participating in election observation through its partnership with the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG). He described the allegation as fabricated and intended to damage the reputation and credibility of Caritas Zambia.
Fr. Mapulanga further emphasised that Caritas Zambia would never provide money or any other inducement to persuade citizens to vote for or against any political party. He said such conduct would violate the organisation’s values, principles, and commitment to impartiality, adding that Caritas Zambia does not engage in vote buying or partisan political activities.
Conclusion
The claim that Caritas Zambia was paying voters in Muchinga Province to vote against the UPND is false. iVerify Zambia found no evidence to support the allegation. Caritas Zambia categorically denied the claim, describing it as fabricated and harmful to the organisation’s reputation. False allegations against civil society and faith-based organisations can erode public trust, undermine confidence in election observation efforts, and heighten political tensions during an election period. Such claims should not be shared without credible evidence. Members of the public are encouraged to verify information before sharing it and to rely on credible and official sources for election-related information.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing any information, verify whether it comes from credible and official sources. If you encounter suspicious claims, images, or videos, submit them to iVerify Zambia for verification.
📧 Email: factcheck@panos.org.zm
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Together, we can reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, promote access to accurate and verified information, and help protect the integrity of public discourse.
