Claim
On September 12, 2022, the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) party president, Mr. Sean Tembo, through his Facebook page, posted a statement on the harassment of opposition candidates in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies, respectively. The statement consists of numbered points of Mr. Tembo’s alleged views. He stated that the commission is evidently used as a political weapon against the opposition by President Hakainde Hichilema. He further stated that the president should desist from weaponizing the law enforcement agencies as the act has the potential to damage the country’s democracy.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia has determined as misleading the claim by Mr. Sean Tembo that President Hichilema is using the law enforcement agencies to harass the opposition political party members. iVerify contacted the Anti-Corruption Commission Public Relations Manager, Mr. Timothy Moono, but he referred iVerify to a statement issued by the Commission. In the statement issued on August 31, 2022, Mr. Moono dismissed the allegation that the commission was being used by the president to oppress the opposition members. He said Mr. Bowman Lusambo was arrested and charged with four (4) counts of bribery contrary to Section 81 of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016. The offences were committed between April 1, 2021, and August 14, 2021, in Ndola during the August 2021 General Elections campaign period. Therefore, the allegation by Mr. Tembo that the President is weaponizing the law enforcement agencies against the opposition is misleading.
