Social media posts falsely alleged that Zambia Police shot dead eight supporters of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), including a seven-year-old child, during a campaign roadshow in Lusaka. Our verification found no evidence to support the claim. Official statements from the Zambia Police Service and the Ministry of Information and Media refute the allegation, and no credible independent reporting confirms the deaths.
Claim
On 16 July 2026, a Facebook page called The Candidates published a post claiming that eight people, including a seven-year-old child, were shot dead after Zambia Police allegedly used live ammunition to disperse supporters of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) during the party’s election campaign roadshow in Lusaka’s Kalingalinga Compound.
A related post published by another Facebook page, Chair The Voice of Zambia, alleged that Zambia Police had shot and injured a young girl in Kalikiliki Compound during the same campaign event.
(For transparency, the original posts are linked below. iVerify Zambia does not ordinarily amplify misinformation by republishing false claims.)
Verdict: False
Why This Fact Check Matters
Claims alleging that security forces have killed political supporters during an election campaign are highly sensitive. If left unverified, such allegations can inflame political tensions, undermine public confidence in electoral institutions, provoke unrest, and influence public opinion based on false information. It is therefore essential that such claims are supported by credible evidence before they are shared.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia found no evidence supporting the claim that Zambia Police shot dead eight NRPUP supporters or that officers used live ammunition during the campaign event. The claim was publicly refuted by both the Ministry of Information and Media and the Zambia Police Service.
In a statement issued on 16 July 2026, Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary and Chief Government Spokesperson Thabo Kawana described the allegation as “completely false.” He stated that the social media post was intended to spread panic, create unnecessary alarm, and incite public unrest. He urged citizens to rely on credible and official sources of information and to refrain from sharing misinformation.
The Zambia Police Service also issued a statement denying reports that officers had shot and killed several people in Kalingalinga and Mtendere Compounds.
Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi explained that officers discharged tear smoke canisters during a crowd-control operation. According to the statement:
- No fatalities were recorded.
- No live ammunition was used.
- A pellet from one of the tear smoke canisters inadvertently struck the leg of a girl who was in Mtendere Compound, some distance from the operational area.
- The girl was taken to Mtendere Clinic, where she received treatment and was later discharged.
- Police have opened investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Fact-Checking Process
To verify the claim, iVerify Zambia:
- Reviewed the viral social media posts containing the allegations.
- Examined official statements issued by the Ministry of Information and Media and the Zambia Police Service.
- Searched for corroborating reports from credible local and international news organisations.
- Compared available evidence to determine whether any independent source confirmed the alleged deaths or the use of live ammunition.
Our verification found no credible evidence supporting the claim that eight people were shot dead or that police used live ammunition during the incident.
Conclusion
Available evidence confirms that a police crowd-control operation took place during the NRPUP campaign roadshow in Lusaka and that officers deployed tear smoke canisters.
However, there is no evidence that eight opposition supporters, including a seven-year-old child, were shot dead as alleged on social media. Similarly, there is no evidence supporting claims that police intentionally shot a young girl. According to the Zambia Police Service, the girl sustained an injury after being struck by a pellet from a tear smoke canister and was treated and discharged from a health facility.
The claim that Zambia Police shot dead eight NRPUP supporters is therefore false.
Evidence Reviewed
- Ministry of Information and Media statement issued on 16 July 2026.
- Zambia Police Service press statement issued on 16 July 2026.
- Original Facebook posts:
- Supporting official communication:
Help Fight Misinformation
Have you seen information that you suspect may be false or misleading? Send it to the iVerify Zambia Tipline on +260 762 974 750 or email factcheck@panos.org.zm. Our team will verify the claim using transparent, evidence-based fact-checking methods.
