Claim
On 15 June 2023, Lono TV Facebook page uploaded a video depicting a purported daylight robbery at a ZESCO call center in Kasama, Northern Province. The video caused a stir on various social media platforms, capturing the attention of many users who widely shared the post, prompting widespread discussions and speculations. Some social media platforms went to the extent of claiming a citizen was gunned down during the purported robbery. Numerous platforms shared the video, fueling public curiosity and concern. Some social media users went on to allege that a citizen had been gunned down in the robbery.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia has determined as false the assertion in a video shared by Lono TV and widely shared on social media that there was a daylight robbery at a ZESCO fcaility in Kasama, and a citizen was gunned down during the “robbery”. In a statement, Zambia Police Service Assistant Public relations officer, Godfrey Chilabi, said the incident in the video was not a robbery, but a planned simulation exercise that took place on 15 June 2023, at the ZESCO customer service center in Kasama, Northern Province. Mr. Chilabi further clarified that the simulation exercise was aimed at evaluating and enhancing response capabilities, coordination, and effectiveness. He added that the presence of armed individuals was part of creating realistic training scenarios. Therefore, the assertion in a video uploaded by Lono TV asserting that there was a daylight robbery at a ZESCO center in Kasama district, in which other online social media platforms asserted that a citizen was gunned down during the purported robbery, is false.
