I found something interesting in IVerify - Yes, acts of political violence recorded in Kabwata parliamentary by-elections.

Yes, acts of political violence recorded in Kabwata parliamentary by-elections.

True

Various pieces of evidence, including a media report and video by Diamond TV as well as a Police medical report obtained by iVerify, confirmed acts of political violence following a clash between UPND and Socialist Party members

# # #
Verified Feb, 02 2022

Claim

On 29th January 2022, Socialist Party President, Dr. Fred M’membe posted an article that claimed that a Socialist Party candidate in the Kabwata Constituency by-elections, Mr. N’gandu Tripher, was attacked and injured with some members of his campaign team in an act of political violence in Lilayi area of Kamulanga Ward by UPND members. In the article, Dr. M’membe alleged that according to the prescribed timetable by the Election Commission of Zambia, it was the SP’s day to campaign in Lilayi area of Kamulanga. Dr. M’membe further alleged that this was not the first time the party was a victim of political violence as such as acts of attacks on the SP have been previously recorded in Kaumbwe, Mwansabombwe and Milenge. The alleged incident of political violence happened when the UPND party members clashed with the SP camp during a tour of Lilayi market by the Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango.

Rating Justification

The fact checking process has determined as true, the claim by Socialist Party president, Dr. Fred M’membe, that acts of political violence have been recorded in the Kabwata Constituency by-elections following a clash between the ruling UPND and SP Party supporters in Lilayi area of Kamulanga Ward during a tour of Lilayi market by the Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango. In a Zambia Police medical report obtained by iVerify, SP Party member, Mr. James Chola , indicated that he had body pains and a cut on the nose following a clash between reported UPND members and the Socialist Party members during campaigns in Gondwe Compound of Lilayi. A check with a Diamond TV media report and video consulted by iVerify, confirmed an act of political violence between UPND and SP members which was reported during a tour of Lilayi market by the Vice President. iVerify further cross checked the Kabwata National Assembly by-election ECZ campaigns timetable to establish the reported clash incident. The timetable revealed that the Socialist Party was the party that was scheduled to campaign in Zone I Lilayi area on 29th January 2022 as stated by Mr. M’membe. Therefore, the claim by Socialist Party president, Mr. Fred M’membe, that acts of political violence have been recorded in the Kabwata Constituency by-elections following a clash between the ruling UPND and SP Party in Lilayi area of Kamulanga Ward during a tour of Lilayi market by the Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, is true.

Evidence and References

Articles build on this verification


Journalist Name

Story hyperlink

OUR PARTNERS

  • We work to ensure that information is effectively used to foster development by empowering communities to shape their own agenda…

    Panos

  • Bloggers of Zambia is an emerging, independent and non-profit enterprise working in Internet Governance and Digital Rights, Media Rights and Freedoms and Online Creative Content Management.

    Bloggers of Zambia

    Bloggers of Zambia

  • MISA Zambia is a membership driven organisation that believes in freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom as functions of good governance.

    MISA Zambia