Claim
On 3 June 2026, the Patriotic Front Facebook page published a post claiming that the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), under Commissioner General Dingani Banda, had refused to clear and release Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance campaign regalia allegedly being held by the Authority.
Verdict: False
An investigation by iVerify Zambia found no evidence to support the claim that the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) detained or refused to release Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance campaign regalia.
Official statements issued by ZRA and corroborating remarks from the Ministry of Information and Media refuted the allegation, while no evidence was produced to substantiate the claim.
How We Verified This
To verify the claim, iVerify Zambia did the following, among others :
- Reviewed the original social media post published by the Patriotic Front Facebook page.
- Examined the official response issued by the Zambia Revenue Authority on 4 June 2026.
- Reviewed public statements made by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana regarding the allegation.
- Assessed whether any documentary evidence, such as customs records, import documentation, shipment details, or border entry records, had been presented to support the claim.
- Searched for corroborating evidence from credible public sources.
The review found no evidence indicating that ZRA had impounded, withheld, or delayed campaign regalia belonging to the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance. No supporting documentation was produced by those making the allegation.
Rating Justification
The claim was not supported by credible or verifiable evidence and remained an unsubstantiated allegation throughout the period under review.
On 4 June 2026, the Zambia Revenue Authority issued an official statement dismissing the allegation as false. ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Oliver Nzala, stated that the Authority was not holding any goods belonging to any political party or organisation and urged members of the public to disregard the misinformation.
The clarification was reinforced by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana, who described the allegation as false and misleading. He stated that no political party’s campaign materials had been impounded, withheld, or delayed by ZRA at any border entry point.
Mr. Kawana further challenged those making the allegation to provide evidence, including details of the alleged border post, shipment information, and supporting documentation. No such evidence was publicly presented at the time of publication.
Given the absence of verifiable evidence supporting the claim and the official records reviewed by iVerify Zambia, the allegation is rated False.
Conclusion
The claim that the Zambia Revenue Authority detained or refused to release Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance campaign regalia is not supported by available evidence and has been officially refuted by the institutions implicated in the allegation.
This fact-check highlights the importance of evidence-based public discourse, particularly during election periods when misinformation can rapidly influence public perceptions and undermine trust in public institutions. Allegations concerning electoral actors or state agencies should be supported by verifiable facts before being amplified through media platforms or social networks.
As Zambia prepares for the August 2026 General Elections, citizens, political parties, media organisations, and public institutions all share a responsibility to promote accurate information and challenge unverified claims. Strengthening information integrity contributes to informed decision-making, public accountability, and confidence in democratic processes.
Sources
- Zambia Revenue Authority statement issued on 4 June 2026 https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1289565253261048&id=100066227572479&rdid=NES2hZe0t53seZiq#
- Public statement by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid03xurvTimE4Kekc4y2aZuRA8AbcVnZbuBXWgNe1BbYUxLM4gt9FzmuteoyNZmfkJml&id=100069038505521&rdid=2W36ekDtje80YZfv#
