A viral social media claim alleges that 1,180 Tonse Alliance and opposition supporters are being held in police custody in Lusaka on politically motivated charges. iVerify Zambia found no verifiable evidence to substantiate the figures or the alleged political motivation. The Zambia Police Service has also clarified that it did not issue or confirm the figures circulating online.
Claim
A post circulating on social media, including on the Zambian Breaking News and Top Stories and Justice for Jay Jay Banda Facebook pages on 13 September 2026, claimed that more than 1,000 Tonse Alliance and other opposition supporters were being held in police cells on allegedly politically motivated charges.
The posts provided a breakdown of the alleged detainees across police stations and police posts in Lusaka Urban and Lusaka Rural districts. The figures listed 922 people in Lusaka Urban and 258 in Lusaka Rural, giving a claimed total of 1,180 detainees.
Verdict: UNPROVEN
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia found no verifiable evidence to substantiate the claim that 1,180 Tonse Alliance and opposition supporters were in police custody or that their alleged arrests were politically motivated.
The social media posts provide a tabulation of names or figures attributed to various police stations and posts, but do not provide sufficient supporting evidence to independently establish that the listed individuals were in police custody, the dates and circumstances of their alleged arrests, or the basis for describing the arrests as politically motivated.
The Zambia Police Service has also distanced itself from the figures circulating online. In a statement issued on 14 September 2026, the Service raised concern over information circulating on social media about alleged politically motivated detentions. It clarified that it had not issued or confirmed the figures and described the information as false, misleading and not representative of official information.
The Police Service further warned that creating and circulating information presented as official police information could undermine public confidence in the institution and damage its reputation.
It advised members of the public to exercise caution when sharing claims concerning arrests, police detentions and criminal investigations, and to verify such information directly with the Zambia Police Service or through its official communication channels.
Importantly, the Police statement does not by itself establish that no opposition supporters were detained. Rather, it confirms that the Police Service did not issue or verify the specific figures being circulated. Therefore, the available evidence is insufficient to substantiate either the claimed total of 1,180 detainees or the assertion that the alleged detentions were politically motivated.
Conclusion
The claim that 1,180 Tonse Alliance and opposition supporters were being held in police cells in Lusaka on politically motivated charges is unproven.
While the social media posts present a detailed breakdown of alleged detainees, they do not provide sufficient verifiable evidence to establish that the individuals listed were in police custody or that their arrests were politically motivated.
The Zambia Police Service has also stated that it did not issue or confirm the figures circulating online and has distanced itself from the information.
Until credible evidence or authoritative information emerges to substantiate the alleged numbers and circumstances of the arrests, the claim should be treated with caution. Unverified claims about mass political detentions can heighten political tensions, cause unnecessary alarm and undermine public confidence in the Zambia Police Service and other governance institutions.
Evidence
Zambia Police Service Press Statement warning against circulating disinformation
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JZe9NsRy4/
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