I found something interesting in IVerify - No.The Former President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu did not declare himself eligible for 2026 General Elections, the video clip was taken in 2021 during a memorial service.

No.The Former President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu did not declare himself eligible for 2026 General Elections, the video clip was taken in 2021 during a memorial service.

False

The alleged video clip of the Former President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu was taken in 2021 during a memorial service and not as alledged that he declared himself eligible for 2026 General Elections from the clip.

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Verified Mar, 09 2023

Claim

On March 2, 2023, Koswe Facebook page published an article claiming that Zambia’s Former Republican President, Dr Edgar Changwa Lungu had declared himself ready for the 2026 General Elections and was determined to remove the current Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema from office. The post was accompanied by a video clip of the Former President, addressing a public gathering where he allegedly declared his readiness for the elections.

Rating Justification

The iVerify Zambia has determined as false the claim by the Koswe Facebook page that Zambia’s former Republican President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu had declared himself ready for the 2026 General Elections and that he was determined to remove the current Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema from office. The video clip alleged to be recent was taken 3 years ago during a memorial service for the late Republican President, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata. iVerify Zambia contacted former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and an aspiring candidate for the Presidency of the Patriotic Front party, Honorable Emmanuel Mwamba refuted the claims by Koswe, confirming that the video clip was indeed taken in 2021 during the memorial service for the late President Michael Chilufya Sata.

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