Claim Being Checked
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, social media posts emerged claiming that Michelo Chizombe, a petitioner in the election eligibility case of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, was provided with state security.
The claim was first published by former Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, and later shared widely by several pages and users. Within hours, the video gained thousands of views.
Verification
Dikoding Deception analyzed the video and images shared online, which allegedly showed state-provided security for Michelo Chizombe. However, our investigation found a different context.
The footage actually shows two police officers walking alongside Nelson Nyirenda, the Student Union President of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Michelo Chizombe, who is also the Chairperson of the National Council of Student Unions (NACOSU), and other student leaders.
To verify the claim, Dikoding Deception contacted a former Student Representative Council President who previously acted as the Union President at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University.
Our findings confirm that the police officers are from Bennie Mwiinga Police Post and are regularly assigned to Levy Mwanawasa Medical University for security purposes. Their role includes maintaining peace and order at student events such as General Assemblies, Debates, Elections and Student Orientations.
Furthermore, a review of posts from the official Facebook pages of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University and NACOSU confirms that the video and images were taken during an orientation program for first-year students, not as state-provided security for Michelo Chizombe.
Conclusion
The claim that the State provided security for Michelo Chizombe is false. The police officers were on their routine duty at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University during a student event.
Verdict
FALSE.
Read more of our fact-checks here.
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