There is no credible evidence to support claims that Chaminuka Resort CEO Stelios Sardanis was murdered by UPND cadres or snipers. Zambia Police confirmed that he was killed by unknown assailants during an aggravated robbery, but investigations into the murder were ongoing.
Claim
A Facebook page called Hon. Emmanuel Jay Banda published a post on 9 August 2026 claiming that Stelios Sardanis, the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Chaminuka Resort, was allegedly murdered by a group of UPND cadres and snipers during a night attack.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia fact-checked the claim and found it to be fabricated and false.
As part of the verification process, iVerify Zambia reviewed credible reports concerning the murder of Mr. Stelios Sardanis. The review found no evidence linking his death to UPND cadres, snipers, or any political group, contrary to the claim made in the Facebook post.
A press statement issued by the Zambia Police Service on 9 August 2026, through its Public Relations Officer, Godfrey Chilabi, confirmed that Mr. Sardanis, aged 64, was killed during an aggravated robbery at his home at Chaminuka Lodge in Chisamba District.
According to the police, the incident occurred between 01:00 and 01:15 hours on 9 August 2026, when Mr. Sardanis was attacked by unknown assailants. The police statement did not identify the attackers as UPND cadres, snipers, or members of any political organisation.
The police said investigations into the murder were ongoing and appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact the Zambia Police Service through the toll-free lines 9010 or 9011. The police also indicated that further updates would be provided as investigations progressed.
Conclusion
The claim that Chaminuka Resort CEO Mr. Stelios Sardanis was murdered by UPND cadres or snipers is false.
While the Zambia Police Service confirmed that Mr. Sardanis was murdered during an aggravated robbery, it identified the perpetrators only as unknown assailants and did not link them to the UPND or any other political party. At the time of the claim, investigations were still ongoing.
Attributing the murder to a political party without credible evidence is misleading and risks turning a serious criminal investigation into an unsubstantiated political narrative. Such claims can also heighten political tensions, fuel public anger and undermine confidence in legitimate investigations, particularly during an election period.
The public is therefore urged to disregard the false claim and rely on verified updates from the Zambia Police Service and other credible sources as investigations continue.
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