Claim:
On 29 March, 2026, the Smart Eagles Facebook page published a post alleging that the United Party for National Development (UPND) had reported Malambo Independent Parliamentary candidate Faith Lungu Bury (FLB) to the police for assisting flood victims who were sheltering in classrooms at Chikoba Basic School in Mambwe District, Eastern Province with foodstuffs and blankets. The post included images of the candidate in question and the alleged flood victims in a queue.
Verification
iVerify Zambia has determined as False the claim by the Smart Eagles Facebook page that UPND had reported Faith Lungu Bury, aspiring independent member of parliament for Malambo constituency to police for assisting flood victims with foodstuffs and blankets. The claim was not supported by any official police record.
To verify the claim, iVerify Zambia contacted the Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Mr. Robertson Mweemba for a comment on the matter. Commissioner Mweemba said that no police station in Eastern Province had recorded such as a case or conducted any arrest of Ms. Faith Lungu Bury, labelling the allegation as false.
The Commissioner urged the public and the media to always verify information before publishing ,noting that inaccurate reports can easily mislead the people and disturb peace.
Rating Justification
The claim under review involves political actors, and as the country prepares for elections, and at any other time, this fact check is important for safeguarding public trust, political integrity, and social cohesion in a sensitive humanitarian context. False claims involving political actors such as the United Party for National Development can fuel tension and distort public perception, while misrepresenting Faith Lungu Bury may discourage vital humanitarian assistance. Additionally, unverified allegations involving law enforcement risk creating panic and mistrust, and the spread of such misinformation on platforms like Facebook underscores the need for responsible information sharing. Overall, the claim is rated high because it could undermine democratic processes, disrupt aid efforts, and erode confidence in institutions if left unchallenged.
False claim source
https://www.facebook.com/share/1C4JTDHvRM/
