Claim
On August 2, 2022, The Candidates Facebook page published a post claiming that Dr. George Magwende was fired as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health for being a close associate of Socialist Party President Fred M’membe.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia has determined the claim by The Candidates as misleading. According to a statement released by the Office of the President Press and Public Relations Office Dr. Magwende’s contract was terminated in pursuant to Article 92(1), 92(2)(e), and 270 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.
Article 92. (1) states that the President shall perform, with dignity, leadership
and integrity, the acts that are necessary and expedient for, or
reasonably incidental to, the exercise of the executive authority.
Article 92. (2)(e) states that the President shall appoint persons as are required by this Constitution or
any other law to be appointed by the President.
Article 270 which provides the President power to appoint and remove states that in the Constitution, unless a contrary intention is
expressed, power to appoint a person to hold or act in an office
includes the power to confirm appointments, to exercise disciplinary
control over the person holding or acting in the office and to remove
that person from office.
Dr Magwende has since been summoned for questioning by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to a Press Statement from ACC dated August 8, 2022, Dr Magwende is expected to appear before the Commission on Tuesday, August 9 2022 at 09:00hrs. The statement says the ACC has been carrying out investigations into allegations of corruption.
Misleading
