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Zambia Police Service Spokesperson wrongly linked to assault by media reports

False

In a statement accessed by iVerfy Zambia, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) , Mr. Thabo Kawana, clarified that information going round on different social media platforms suggesting that the Zambia Police Spokesperson, Mr. Rae Hamoonga, beat his wife and is facing arrest was false. The police officer reported to Mtendere Police Station is Ray Moonga, not Mr. Rae Hamoonga. The Ministry further urged the public to only rely on credible sources of information to avoid circulating false narratives.

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Verified Oct, 17 2024

Claim

On September 6, 2024, The Patriotic Front Facebook page published a story that was accompanied by a photo of Mr. Rae Hamoonga, the Police Spokesperson in uniform and a caption, “Ray Hamoonga Beats wife to pulp, Faces Arrest for Assault and Malicious Damage to Property – Mtendere Police Station”. The story alleges that Mtendere Police Station had received reports from F/Dinah Musamba aged 27 of House Number 477 Chelston Police Camp on Cell number 0972302127 that she was assaulted by her husband M/Rae Hamoonga who is a Police officer. It further alleges that the victim had sustained general body pains and property valued at K6,000 was damaged. The incident is alleged to have occurred on September 4, 2024, between 22:00 and 23:00 hours in Garden Chilulu compound.Majority of the followers of the page expressed sadness about the matter and raised concerns on the integrity of the Officer.

Rating Justification

iVerify has determined as false the story by The Patriotic Front Facebook page that the Zambia Police Service Spokesperson, Mr. Rae Hamoonga had allegedly assaulted his wife. A press statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Media through the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Thabo Kawana, and accessed by iVerify Zambia has clarified that the information circulating on various social media platforms alleging that the Zambia Police Spokesperson, Mr. Rae Hamoonga, has beaten his wife and is facing arrest was false.

The statement has revealed that the police officer reported to Mtendere Police Station is Ray Moonga, not Mr. Rae Hamoonga.
The Ministry has encouraged interested members of the public to visit Mtendere Police Station to verify the information for themselves. It has further cautioned the public against spreading unverified and misleading information, particularly on social media platforms, as such actions only serve to cause unnecessary panic and confusion and urged them to rely on credible sources of information to avoid circulating false narratives.

Evidence and References

Statement For Immediate Release
GOVERNMENT CLARIFIES ALLEGATIONS AGAINST POLICE SPOKESPERSON RAE HAMOONGA
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5tFGppFG/

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