A social media statement claiming that State House is offering K3 million to anyone who provides information leading to the identification and arrest of people allegedly leaking confidential state information to Emmanuel Jay Banda is false. State House has confirmed that the statement did not originate from its offices.
Claim
On 5 October 2026, the Zambia Freedom News Facebook page and other social media platforms alleged that State House was offering K3 million to anyone who provided information leading to the identification and arrest of people allegedly leaking confidential state information to Emmanuel Jay Banda.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
An iVerify Zambia verification of the claim established that the statement circulating on social media was fabricated.
iVerify Zambia contacted Clayson Hamasaka, Chief Communications Specialist at State House, who confirmed that the statement circulating online was fake. He clarified that the alleged press release did not originate from State House.
Mr Hamasaka urged members of the public to disregard the fake statement and encouraged them to verify information of this nature through official State House communication channels before sharing or acting on it.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence gathered during the verification process, the claim that State House is offering K3 million to anyone providing information leading to the identification and arrest of people allegedly leaking confidential state information to Emmanuel Jay Banda is false.
State House has denied issuing such a pronouncement, contrary to the claim circulating on social media.
The allegation is similar to other false statements that have previously circulated online and been falsely attributed to State House. This recurring pattern highlights the importance of exercising caution when encountering official-looking statements, particularly those concerning sensitive political or security matters.
The public is encouraged to verify such claims through credible and authoritative sources before sharing them. Taking a moment to verify information can help prevent the spread of false claims that may cause harm to individuals, institutions and society.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related or public affairs information, verify whether it comes from credible and official sources. If you encounter suspicious claims, images or videos, submit them to iVerify Zambia for verification.
Email: factcheck@panos.org.zm
WhatsApp: +260 762 974 750
Together, we can reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, promote access to accurate and verified information, and help protect the integrity of public discourse.
