CLAIM
On 23rd June 2026, posts published on the Candidates Facebook page and Kwacha Magazine alleged that the Zambian Government offered R3 million to Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, the lawyer representing the family of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL), in connection with legal proceedings involving the family.
Editorial Note: In line with responsible fact-checking practices, iVerify Zambia has not reproduced the original social media posts beyond the relevant claim necessary for verification.
VERDICT: MISLEADING
iVerify Zambia has not found credible evidence to substantiate the claim that the Zambian Government offered R3 million to Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, counsel for the ECL family.
At the time of publication, no official documentation, court records, government statements, or independently verifiable evidence had been presented to support the allegation. The claim appears to rely primarily on assertions circulated through social media posts and media reports, without accompanying evidence that can be independently verified.
EVIDENCE
iVerify Zambia reviewed:
- The social media posts published on a candidate’s Facebook page and by Kwacha Magazine containing the allegation.
- Publicly available government statements and communications relevant to the matter.
- Publicly available court records and reports relating to the legal proceedings involving the Lungu family.
- The judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa in Esther Lungu and Others v Government of the Republic of Zambia and Others (089/2026) [2026] ZASCA 87 delivered on 23 June 2026.
RATING JUSTIFICATION
The allegation asserts that the Zambian Government offered R3 million to Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who represented the family of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in legal proceedings before South African courts.
However, the sources reviewed did not provide documentary evidence, official correspondence, financial records, witness testimony, or any other verifiable material demonstrating that such an offer was made.
A review of publicly available official statements, court proceedings, and government communications did not yield evidence confirming the alleged offer. Furthermore, no public statement from the relevant government authorities or from Advocate Ngcukaitobi has been identified that substantiates the claim.
iVerify Zambia also reviewed the judgment in Esther Lungu and Others v Government of the Republic of Zambia and Others (089/2026) [2026] ZASCA 87. The judgment confirms Advocate Ngcukaitobi’s role as counsel for the Lungu family in the burial dispute before the South African courts. However, the judgment contains no reference to any offer of R3 million by the Zambian Government, nor does it contain evidence of any alleged attempt to influence legal proceedings through financial inducement.
Without independently verifiable evidence, the allegation cannot be confirmed as factual. Claims involving financial inducements or attempts to influence legal proceedings require a high standard of evidence, including documentary proof or credible corroboration from reliable sources.
CONCLUSION
The available evidence does not substantiate the claim that the Zambian Government offered R3 million to Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, the lawyer representing the ECL family. The allegation therefore remains unverified because no credible evidence has been presented to support it.
A review of the publicly available judgment in Esther Lungu and Others v Government of the Republic of Zambia and Others [2026] ZASCA 87 did not reveal any evidence supporting the allegation. Accordingly, the claim should not be treated as established fact.
Readers are encouraged to rely on verified information from official records and credible sources when assessing allegations of this nature. This case highlights the importance of providing verifiable evidence when making serious allegations involving public institutions and legal proceedings.
