Claim
On Friday, October 14, 2022, Choice TV Zambia Facebook page published a statement claiming former PF Deputy Secretary General, Mumbi Phiri, has not been found with a case to answer in the murder case of Lawrence Banda in which she is jointly charged with former President Edgar Lungu’s barber, Shebby Chilekwa. In this matter, it is alleged that on October 6, 2019, Phiri and Chilekwa, jointly and whilst acting together, murdered Lawrence Banda during the Kaoma Council Chairperson by-elections.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia has determined as false, the claim by Choice TV Zambia Facebook page that the former PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has not been found with a case to answer in the murder case of UPND sympathiser Lawerence Banda. Phiri is jointly charged with former President Edgar Lungu’s barber Shebby Chilekwa for the alleged murder of Banda during the Kaoma Council Chairperson by-elections in 2019. According to Judiciary Public Relations officer Kalumba Chishimba-Slavin, the High Court which sat in Mongu found Phiri and Chilekwa with a case to answer and put them on their defence. The matter was adjourned to December 2022. This, however, does not mean that the court has found Mumbi Phiri and her co-accused guilty as they have only been put on defence and are expected to appear in court again in December. Therefore, the claim by Choice TV Zambia Facebook page that the former PF Deputy Secretary General Phiri has not been found with a case to answer in the joint murder case of Banda is false.
