Fact-Check Unit

Speak Up Youth Factshare: Responding to Drought: Kalomo Town Council’s Strategic Utilization of Constituency Development Funds

By Pride Maila, Citizen Journalists In response to the severe drought declared a disaster by President Hakainde Hichilema on January 10, 2024, local authorities across Zambia have been mandated to realign budgets and leverage Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to mitigate its impacts. The Kalomo Town Council, which oversees Dundumwezi and Kalomo Central constituencies, has taken…

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Speak Up Youth Fact-share: Relief Food Distribution in Mwaata Ward, Kalomo Central Constituency

By Erastone Gwangwazu, Citizen Journalist IntroductionMwaata Ward, the largest ward by population in Kalomo Central Constituency, comprises four zones. A recent survey revealed that most residents in the ward cannot afford three meals a day due to the ongoing hunger crisis caused by the drought during the 2023/2024 agricultural season. Relief Food Distribution Overview In…

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Speak Up Youth Fact-share: Overview of the Financial Intelligence Centre’s 2023 Report-Key Findings and Implications

By Pride Maila, Citizen Journalist The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has published its 2023 report, offering a comprehensive analysis of financial crimes and suspicious transactions in Zambia. This overview highlights the report’s key findings, their implications for the fight against corruption, and expectations from law enforcement and government institutions. Key Findings of the 2023 FIC…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing: The Financial and Political Impact of By-Elections in Zambia

By Maila Pride, Citizen Journalist By-elections in Zambia, as in many other democracies, are essential mechanisms for maintaining legislative legitimacy and functionality. However, they carry significant financial costs and political consequences. The recent declaration by the Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Moyo, to vacate nine Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentary seats—though later stayed…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing: Zambia’s Debt Restructuring Process

By Maila Pride, Citizen Journalist According to Reuters News Agency, debt restructuring involves negotiating with creditors to reduce interest rates, extend repayment terms, or decrease loan balances. The aim is to make debt more manageable by lowering monthly payments, reducing interest rates, or cutting the total amount owed. In March 2024, the Government of the…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing: The Keeping Girls in School (KGS) initiative

By Erastone Gwangwazu, Citizen Journalist BackgroundThe Keeping Girls in School (KGS) initiative, under the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood (GEWEL) project, is an initiative funded by the World Bank aimed at supporting vulnerable girls in Zambia. This project targets girls from socio-economically disadvantaged families, ensuring they stay in school and receive support from…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing: Children’s Code Act Fact Share

By Maila Pride, Citizen Journalist The Children’s Code Act, No. 12 of 2022, is a landmark piece of legislation enacted by the Zambian Parliament to consolidate various laws addressing the welfare of children. The Act aims to ensure the protection, respect, and fulfillment of children’s rights. According to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), its full…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing: The Little-Known Legal Provisions on Anti-Corruption in Zambia

By Patricia Kachenjela, Citizen Journalist. Legal Framework: Zambia’s Anti-corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 defines corruption broadly, encompassing solicitation, acceptance, giving, promising, or offering gratification as bribery or inducement. The Anti-corruption Commission, established in 1890 under the Corrupt Practices Act No.14, is mandated to lead the fight against corruption. Mission: The Anti-corruption Commission aims to…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing; Was Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa Right in Denying His Brother Access to CDF?

By Mubita Kabika, Citizen Journalist. Was Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa right in denying his brother participation and possible access to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) contracts? Background Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa reported to the public that he had stopped his brother ‘Joze’ from accessing CDF contracts using the declaration of interest…

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The Speak Up Youth Fact Sharing; Who Can, Who Cannot Complain, and How to Lodge a Complaint to the Public Protector?

By Patrick Makaliki, Citizen Journalist Following the enactment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, the Office of the Public Protector was established to replace the Office of the Investigator General. This is by virtue of Article 243 of the amended Constitution. The Public Protector is the OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION of Zambia…

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Did Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Beat any Others to be Awarded Best Airport in Africa?

Claim being Checked: Did Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Beat any Others to be Awarded Best Airport in Africa? Background: On Wednesday 2nd November 2022 a news story was published to the effect that Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) had been awarded the accolade of the best Airport in Africa by the World Luxury Travel…

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Can citizens check declarations of MPs and Ministers at the National Assembly and the Electoral Commission of Zambia?

Claim being checked: Can citizens check declarations of the assets, interests, liabilities, and income of Members of Parliament and Ministers at the National Assembly and the Electoral Commission of Zambia? Background: On the 25th of March 2022, the Alliance for Community Action (ACA) Fact-checking Unit inspected the Asset Declaration Register at the Supreme Court for…

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Have all Ministers Declared their Assets and Liabilities in accordance with the Law?

Background: On 6th March 2022, Chapter One Foundation released a press statement that stated that there was low compliance with the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act among Cabinet Ministers. The statement showed that only a few ministers had filed their statutory declarations of assets, liabilities, interests, and income as required by law. Later,…

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We have found “the Office of the Filer” and we looked at the files!

The current “Office of The Filer” is the Registrar of the Supreme Court, who is appointed by the Chief Justice in accordance with Section 11(2) of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act. Background Following the public interest in the “Office of The Filer” video extract, shared by the ACA which was circulated widely on…

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ZLDC review of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Act Fact-Checks

Does the ZLDC Report propose decriminalisation of bigamy? Following the release of the Zam Law Development Commission review of the Penal Code & Criminal Procedure Acts, the debate suggests that the report proposes that bigamy be decriminalised in favour of polygamy. The ACA Fact Checking Unit verifies this & sets out other proposals in the…

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It is an offence not to display the presidential portrait in Zambia?

Following allegations that some Choma UPND youths attempted to close the local Debonairs franchise on account of not displaying the presidential portrait on the business premises, we republish a fact-check we did in 2018. At that time, then Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu had reportedly threatened to close businesses not displaying or having the wrong…

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Promise Check: Construct and establish universities in each province

Promise Being Checked: Construct and establish universities in each province (Eastern, Northern, Southern and North-Western Provinces). BACKGROUNDElections in Zambia take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy with elections held every five years. Electoral manifestos play a crucial role in the electoral process as they illustrate a party’s vision for the country if elected…

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Did Government really increase the monthly allowances for Social Cash Transfer (SCT)?

BACKGROUNDOn 26th September 2020, Finance Minister Bwalya Ngandu disclosed, as he unveiled the proposed 2021 national budget in Lusaka, that the government of Zambia will increase the monthly allowances for Social Cash Transfer (SCT) beneficiaries from the current K90 to K110.In line with the above statements, the ACA conducted a fact-checking exercise around the use…

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Is the lack of information on COVID19 Donations in the Auditor Generals Report an indication that the Government of Zambia misapplied COVID-19 resources?

BackgroundIn 2020, the Auditor General’s Office carried out a review of records relating to the fight against COVID-19 at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Health (MoH), Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and selected districts.The Report of the Auditor-General reviewed that as of 31st July 2020, Zambia had received pledges and commitments from…

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Does the Constitutional Amendment Bill 10 provide that pensions will be paid promptly and regularly?

Claim checked:In Bill 10, Pensioners will be paid promptly and regularly. (Claim made by the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) BackgroundA robust and polarised debate has been going in Zambia over the constitutional amendment process that the country is currently undertaking. The debate is centred on the Constitutional Amendment Bill 10, of 2019 that…

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Are Ministers declaring their assets, interests, liabilities, and incomes?

Issue to be Investigated 🔍🔎 The Alliance for Community Action (ACA) works to strengthen public resource management accountability, in Zambia. In this regard, the ACA, cooperating with other CSOs, advocates for laws to be passed that will strengthen the legislative framework underpinning public resource management and accountability. In connection with this, the ACA Fact Checking Unit…

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Minister Mushimba Fails to Prove He Paid for his Medical Evacuation to South Africa

On the 27th of February 2019, then Minister of Transport and Communication, Dr Brian Mushimba, stated on his Twitter page that he had paid the cost of his evacuation to South Africa for treatment of a broken arm sustained in a car accident, from his own resources. He further said he was willing to prove…

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NDC Deregistration – Is Another Roan By-election Looming?

Claim checked: The de-registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)by the Registrar of societies means that the party’s Roan parliamentary seat held by Mr Joseph Chishala becomes vacant leading to an upcoming by-election in the said Roan Constituency. Following the announcement of the deregistration of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) by the Registrar of Societies…

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Was National Dialogue Forum Delegate from a Ghost University?

On the 5th of May 2019, a number of Civil Society Organisations participating in the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) announced the formation of the Constitutional Reform and Education Coalition (CRECO). The coalition stated its aim as “to protect the content as agreed by stakeholders of the NDF process.” The constituting members of the coalition and…

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Can an unmarried mother register a child’s birth without the consent of the father? What surname is the child legally allowed to carry?

Following the recent drive by the Department of National Registration Passports and Citizenship for parents to apply for birth certificates for their children, a request was made to the ACA Fact Checking Unit to investigate whether a child can be registered by a mother without the father’s presence, and, in that case, whose surname the…

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Has President Edgar Lungu traveled much more frequently than President Michael Sata did

Alliance for Community Action Fact Checking Unit Fact being checked: President Edgar Lungu travels much more frequently than President Michael Sata did. Following repeated claims in the public, that President Lungu travels too frequently, the Alliance for Community Action Fact checking unit compared the travelling patterns of the two Presidents who have both come from…

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Does The Republican President needs recommendation from the Speaker of the National Assembly to further censure a Minister

Alliance for Community Action Fact Checking Unit Claim being checked: The Republican President needs recommendation from the Speaker of the National Assembly to further censure a Minister who has been disciplined by the National Assembly. The Alliance for Community Action Fact Checking Unit verified the statement made by President Edgar Lungu as regards the recent…

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Does Zambia have the highest number of public holidays in the region

Alliance for Community Action Fact Checking Unit Claim checked: Zambia has the highest number of public holidays in the region. Assertion widely made on social media following President Lungu’s declaration of Friday 9 March, 2018,as a public holiday. SADC region public holidays (Source: Office Holiday) Verification process The ACA fact checking unit used the online…

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