The Secretary General of Zambia’s National Democratic Congress, Mambwe Zimba, was arrested on Tuesday over a digitally altered Facebook image showing President Hakainde Hichilema lying in a casket, with Vice President Mutale Nalumango paying tribute.
The manipulated image, shared from Lusaka, falsely suggested the president had died, prompting Zimba’s arrest. There is no evidence from government or media sources indicating any deterioration in President Hichilema’s health.
Local outlet Lusaka Times reported that Zimba, 44, was one of the administrators of the Facebook page “Zambia for All 2026,” where the altered image was posted.
He remains in police custody in Lusaka, and an investigation has been ongoing since Sunday, when authorities first received the report about the doctored photo.