Recent social media posts claimed that Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana had been evacuated to South Africa for advanced medical treatment and admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, official footage and records show Mr. Kawana carrying out official duties in Zambia on 24, 25 and 28 September 2026, contradicting the claim that he had been evacuated to South Africa and was in an ICU.
Claim:
On 23 September 2026, the Zambia Freedom (ZF News) Facebook page published a post claiming that it had received unconfirmed information that Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana had allegedly been evacuated to South Africa for advanced medical attention and admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The publication itself stated that the information was awaiting confirmation from the Government, Mr. Kawana’s family or the medical facility allegedly treating him.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification:
iVerify Zambia reviewed the claim and found no credible evidence to substantiate the allegation that Thabo Kawana had been evacuated to South Africa or admitted to an ICU.
On the contrary, publicly available official records and footage show Mr. Kawana carrying out official duties in Zambia after the claim was published.
On 24 September 2026, a live broadcast on the Ministry of Information and Media’s official Facebook page, monitored by iVerify Zambia, showed Mr. Kawana presiding over a swearing-in ceremony for members of the Ministry’s Human Resource Management Committee (HRMC).
Further evidence emerged on 25 September 2026, when Mr. Kawana officiated at an orientation meeting on the Integrated Media Reporting System (IMRS) at the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) in Lusaka.
On 28 September 2026, he also officiated at the 2026 Governance Forum and Annual Internal Audit Conference in Livingstone.
These documented public appearances in Zambia contradict the specific claim that Mr. Kawana had been evacuated to South Africa and was in an ICU during the period in question.
Conclusion:
The claim that Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana was evacuated to South Africa and admitted to an Intensive Care Unit is false.
iVerify Zambia found no credible evidence supporting the allegation. Instead, official records and footage show that Mr. Kawana continued to perform his official duties in Zambia on 24, 25 and 28 September 2026, including presiding over events in Lusaka and Livingstone.
Although the original publication acknowledged that its information was unconfirmed, it nevertheless circulated a serious claim concerning a public official’s health without providing evidence to substantiate it. The subsequent documented appearances of Mr. Kawana in Zambia provide evidence that directly contradicts the central claim of evacuation to South Africa and ICU admission.
The public is therefore encouraged to exercise caution when encountering unverified reports, particularly claims concerning an individual’s health, and to seek confirmation from credible and authoritative sources before sharing them.
Evidence:
- Ministry of Information and Media official Facebook video showing Mr. Kawana at the 24 September 2026 swearing-in ceremony.
- Ministry of Information and Media/official footage relating to Mr. Kawana’s 25 September 2026 participation in the IMRS orientation meeting at the IBA in Lusaka.
- Official footage relating to Mr. Kawana’s participation in the 28 September 2026 Governance Forum and Annual Internal Audit Conference in Livingstone.
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.
