A viral Facebook post falsely claims that Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana said NRPUP leader Brian Mundubile would not be allowed to campaign for the next five years and that the Zambia Police had been instructed to suspend the party’s campaigns for five days. The Ministry of Information and Media has dismissed the claim as fake. There is no credible evidence to the contrary.
Claim
On 16th July 2026, a Facebook page called Hadodi Hachisanga the Return published a post claiming that Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, had declared that National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) leader Brian Mundubile would not be allowed to campaign for the next five years.
The post further alleged that Mr. Kawana had instructed the Zambia Police to suspend all NRPUP campaign activities for five days to allow Mr. Mundubile and his running mate in the August 2026 General Election to mourn and show respect for the late former Vice President Guy Scott.
Editor’s Note: We have removed the link to the original false claim to avoid amplifying misinformation.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia investigated the claim and found it to be false. There is no credible evidence that Thabo Kawana made the alleged statement or instructed the Zambia Police to suspend NRPUP campaign activities.
On 17th July 2026, the Ministry of Information and Media issued an official statement dismissing the circulating social media claim as fake. The Ministry described the alleged statement as fabricated and urged members of the public to disregard it and refrain from sharing misinformation. It also encouraged citizens to verify information using credible and official sources before sharing it.
Fact-Checking Process
To verify the claim, iVerify Zambia:
- Reviewed the viral Facebook post containing the alleged statement.
- Examined official communication from the Ministry of Information and Media.
- Found an official statement issued by the Ministry categorically denying that Thabo Kawana made the remarks attributed to him.
- Found no evidence from any credible or official source supporting the claim that the Zambia Police had been instructed to suspend NRPUP campaign activities.
Evidence
An official statement published by the Ministry of Information and Media refutes the claim, describing it as fake and urging the public to ignore and avoid spreading the false information. There is no credible evidence to prove otherwise.
Conclusion
The claim is false. There is no evidence that Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana stated that Brian Mundubile would be barred from campaigning for five years or instructed the Zambia Police to suspend NRPUP campaign activities. The Ministry of Information and Media has officially dismissed the circulating social media post as fabricated.
During an election period, statements purportedly made by senior government officials about political parties or candidates can significantly influence public opinion, undermine confidence in electoral processes, and fuel unnecessary political tensions. For this reason, such claims should be treated with caution and verified against official and credible sources before they are shared. Disseminating fabricated statements attributed to public officials risks misleading voters and distorting public discourse at a time when accurate information is essential for informed democratic participation.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related information, verify whether it comes from credible and official sources. False claims can mislead the public and undermine informed democratic participation. If you have a claim that requires verification or evidence relating to elections and public affairs, send it to iVerify Zambia via +260 762 974 750 or email factcheck@panos.org.zm for verification.
