A Facebook post by Grindstone Television Zambia attributed a call for the release of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu to Jonas Shakafuswa. However, Shakafuswa disputed the statements, clarifying that he had neither commented nor intended to comment on the politicians’ detention.
Claim
On 20 October 2026, Grindstone Television Zambia published a Facebook post claiming that Jonas Shakafuswa had called for the release of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, quoting him as saying: “Release Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu!” The post also attributed remarks to Shakafuswa comparing Zambia’s political situation with that of other African countries.
Note: We have excluded the link to the original post containing the claim to avoid further spreading misinformation.
Verdict: MISLEADING
Rating Justification
The claim is misleading because Jonas Shakafuswa publicly disputed the statements attributed to him. In a post on his official Facebook page, Shakafuswa clarified that he was impressed by Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu’s political performance and election results. However, he stated that he had no information about their detention and had neither commented nor intended to comment on the matter. He also challenged the publication over the statements attributed to him, maintaining that he did not know the facts surrounding their detention.
Shakafuswa’s clarification contradicts Grindstone Television Zambia’s portrayal of him as having called for the release of the two politicians. The available evidence therefore supports the conclusion that the publication misrepresented his position by attributing statements to him that he explicitly disputed.
Evidence
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