A claim that Permanent Secretary for Media and Information Thabo Kawana wore a shirt omitting former President Edgar Lungu during Zambia’s 2026 Independence Day celebrations is false. Kawana said he was outside the country at the time and that the photographs being circulated were taken in 2025.
Claim
On 24 October 2026, politician Brian Hapundu claimed that Thabo Kawana wore a shirt that omitted the image of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu during Zambia’s 62nd Independence Day celebrations at State House. The claim circulated alongside photographs of Kawana wearing a shirt featuring images of former presidents.
Verdict: FALSE
Rating Justification
The claim is false because the photographs cited in support of it were reportedly taken at a different event in 2025, rather than during the 2026 Independence Day celebrations. In a statement published on his official Facebook page on 26 October 2026, Kawana said he was outside Zambia from 16 to 26 October 2026 and did not attend the Independence Day celebrations. He explained that the photographs were taken during the Remembrance Day commemorations in Ndola on 9 November 2025. He also disputed the allegation that the shirt excluded former President Edgar Lungu, stating that the design featured all former presidents and that the circulating photographs had been cropped to create a misleading impression.
Kawana further clarified that the chitenge material used to make the shirts had been purchased in red, green and black.
Source: Kawana’s statement on Facebook
Conclusion
The claim misrepresents the context in which the photographs were reportedly taken. Kawana’s statement places the images at the 2025 Remembrance Day commemorations in Ndola, not at the 2026 Independence Day celebrations at State House. His account also contradicts the allegation that the shirt excluded former President Edgar Lungu. The circulating photographs, without evidence establishing that they were taken at State House on 24 October 2026, do not substantiate the claim.
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Before sharing claims about public affairs, check the date, original context and source of photographs, videos and statements.
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Together, we can reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, promote access to accurate information, and protect the integrity of public discourse.
