An old video of Zambia Army Commander Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele is being recirculated with a false claim that he threatened youths after the 2026 General Election. iVerify Zambia found that the footage dates back to January 2026 and was taken out of context. The remarks were made during a briefing on military operations against illegal mining and were directed at armed individuals threatening Special Forces personnel—not youths or the general public.
Claim
On 18 August 2026, a few days after Zambia’s General Election, a Facebook page named Linda Banks shared a video of Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele, claiming the Army had “targets” it intended to “eradicate.” In the video, Lt. Gen. Zyeele is heard saying that anyone who makes the mistake of pointing a gun at Special Forces personnel would be “gotten rid of.”
The video was accompanied by the caption: “This is the problem with too much peace, some leaders get bored. This man threatened our youth with extermination and fumigation. Mr Hichilema should watch this one carefully, it will only take one small disagreement before he flips and turns on the one sending him to eliminate citizens.”
Verdict: Misleading
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia fact-checked the claim and found it to be misleading. The video itself is authentic. However, it is being circulated without its original context. The footage was recorded on 22 January 2026, when Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele addressed the media on the Zambia Army’s intensified operations against illegal mining. During the briefing, he announced the deployment of Special Forces to illegal mining hotspots, describing the activities as a threat to national security.
It was in this context that the Army Commander stated that the Army had identified “targets” it intended to eradicate and warned that anyone who pointed a firearm at Special Forces personnel would be “gotten rid of.” His remarks were directed at armed individuals engaged in illegal mining who posed a threat to security personnel, not at youths or citizens in general.
The Facebook post omits this context and instead presents the video as evidence that the Army Commander recently threatened “our youth” in the aftermath of the 2026 General Election. Nothing in the original video supports that interpretation. By removing the remarks from their original setting, the post creates the false impression that Lt. Gen. Zyeele was issuing a broad threat against young people or political opponents.
Conclusion
The claim is misleading. Although the video is genuine, it is an old recording from January 2026 relating to military operations against illegal mining. Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele’s warning was directed at individuals who threatened Special Forces personnel during those operations, not at youths or the general public. Sharing the clip without this context falsely suggests that the Army Commander made a fresh post-election threat against citizens. iVerify Zambia therefore rates the claim Misleading.
Evidence
- Original video of Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele’s remarks during a media briefing on illegal mining operations (22 January 2026): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ArhagTN3L/
- Misleading Facebook post circulating the video out of context: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DaKEgn4FD/
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related or public affairs information, verify that 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
WhatsApp: +260 762 974 750
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.
