Claim
A video posted on the Facebook page Zambia Affairz on 6 June 2026, and subsequently circulated across multiple social media platforms, claims that Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Mrs. Mwangala Zaloumis SC, was arrested after police allegedly discovered more than 600,000 pre-marked ballot papers in favour of President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the August 2026 General Election.
Note: The original link to the video has been intentionally removed from this fact-check to avoid amplifying and further disseminating false and misleading content. iVerify Zambia reviewed and archived the material as part of its verification process.
Verdict: FALSE
How We Verified the Claim
iVerify Zambia reviewed the video through visual analysis, verification of key details contained in the footage, and the use of deepfake detection tools. We also examined official information released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Findings
Our analysis established that the video is not authentic and was most likely generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Several indicators reveal that the footage is fabricated:
- The police uniforms shown in the video do not correspond with those used by the Zambia Police Service.
- A vehicle visible in the footage carries a registration number that does not conform to Zambian vehicle registration formats.
- The accent and language used by one of the purported police officers do not appear consistent with a Zambian context.
- The alleged ballot paper displayed in the video contains a spelling error, with the word “Electoral” misspelled as “ECLATRAL.”
- The ballot paper shown differs significantly from the design and format used in Zambian elections.
- The narration contains characteristics commonly associated with AI-generated audio, including a robotic tone and pronunciation errors such as “Wangala ZalouNis” instead of Mwangala Zaloumis and “HichileHa” instead of Hakainde Hichilema.
- The call-to-action directing viewers to a “Full Video Link in the Comments” reflects a common clickbait tactic used to drive engagement and spread misleading content.
Official Position
The findings are consistent with an official statement issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
In a public statement released on 7 June 2026, Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasalo dismissed the claims as false, misleading, and fabricated. He clarified that Mrs. Mwangala Zaloumis had not been arrested and further stated that ballot papers for the 2026 General Election had not yet been printed, making the claims impossible.
The Commission also indicated that the video appeared to be AI-generated content intended to mislead the public and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Conclusion
The claim that ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis was arrested after police allegedly discovered pre-marked ballot papers is false. Evidence gathered by iVerify Zambia shows that the video contains multiple signs of AI manipulation, including fabricated visuals, inaccurate election materials, and synthetic audio.
The claim is further contradicted by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, which confirmed that no such arrest occurred and that ballot papers for the 2026 General Election had not yet been printed.
As Zambia approaches the August 2026 General Election, citizens are encouraged to verify information from credible sources before sharing it online. Vigilance against manipulated and AI-generated content is essential to protecting public trust and the integrity of the electoral process.
Evidence
- ECZ Public Advisory on Fabricated Video and False Allegations Against the ECZ Chairperson Posted on the Zambia Affairs Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1c5NgCpdPJ/
