A viral social media claim alleges that President Hakainde Hichilema deliberately caused the fire at Buseko Market in Matero to punish people who did not vote for him. iVerify Zambia found the claim to be false. While the fire is confirmed, Zambia Police say preliminary investigations point to a possible accidental cause, and there is no evidence linking the incident to the President or to political retaliation.
Claim:
A post published by Zambia Freedom on 31 August 2026 claims that President Hakainde Hichilema has started punishing people who did not vote for him, alleging that Buseko Market in Matero, Lusaka, was set on fire as part of this alleged punishment.
We have removed the link to the misleading article to avoid amplifying misinformation.
Verdict: False
There is no evidence that President Hakainde Hichilema ordered, caused, or was connected to the Buseko Market fire. Available official information indicates that investigations into the cause of the fire are still ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting it may have been accidental.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia reviewed the claim and found it to be false and unsupported by the available evidence.
According to a Zambia Police Service press release dated 31 August, 2026, a fire did occur at Buseko Market along Lumumba Road in Matero, Lusaka, on the night of 30 August 2026. However, the police statement does not link the fire to President Hakainde Hichilema, the Government, or retaliation against people based on how they voted.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that the fire started in a shop on the eastern side of the market, in an area where wooden poles and planks are sold.
Police said a charcoal brazier that may have been left unattended could have contributed to the outbreak, although investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact cause.
The fire destroyed property belonging to several traders, and the full value of the damage had not yet been established at the time of the police statement.
Firefighters from the Lusaka City Council, Zambia National Service, Zambia Air Force and TAZAMA helped extinguish the blaze.
Police also reported that two suspects, aged 18 and 17, were apprehended on suspicion of theft after allegedly being found removing Bonanza gaming machines from an affected shop. Three machines were recovered.
While the fire at Buseko Market is confirmed, there is no evidence in the police statement linking the incident to President Hakainde Hichilema or suggesting that it was intended to punish people who did not vote for him.
Therefore, the claim that President Hakainde Hichilema ordered or caused the Buseko Market fire as punishment for non-voters is FALSE. Investigations into the actual cause of the fire remain ongoing.
Conclusion
The claim that President Hakainde Hichilema caused or ordered the Buseko Market fire to punish people who did not vote for him is FALSE. Official investigations have not linked the fire to the President, the Government, or any political motive, and preliminary findings instead point to a possible accidental cause while investigations remain ongoing.
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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.
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