The Government said no directive has been issued to suspend church meetings, overnight prayers, crusades or other public gatherings. It dismissed a message circulating on social media and attributed to Secretary to the Cabinet Mr Patrick Kangwa as false.

Information and Media Permanent Secretary Mr Thabo Kawana said in a statement in Lusaka that the message, which claimed such gatherings were suspended until 1 November, did not represent any Government decision or directive.

Mr Kawana said the Government remains committed to upholding the Constitution and the laws of Zambia, including freedom of conscience, religion or belief and the right to peaceful assembly.

“In this regard, the Government has noted with concern the attribution of the alleged directive to the Secretary to the Cabinet and urges members of the public to verify information purporting to originate from Government institutions or public officials before believing or acting upon it,” he said.

He extended the appeal to journalists and anyone else who shares information, asking them to check with the relevant authorities before publishing or circulating material said to come from the Government.

The denial came on the same day Mr Kawana told the media to take the lead in countering what he described as rising propaganda on social media. He was speaking at the send-off of 54 journalists and media professionals from the Central Information Centre (CIC) Press team, deployed to cover the upcoming parliamentary and local government by-elections.

“We are now living in an era where propaganda is so rife. Social media is awash in propaganda,” Mr Kawana said.

Social media platforms, he said, are increasingly being used as conduits for fake news. The responsibility falls on media outlets to drown out falsehood with verified, truthful and factual information, and he urged other media houses to match the standard he said the CIC Press team had set as a reliable source of news.

The Permanent Secretary also called on media organisations to refrain from giving platforms to individuals seeking to divide the nation. Newsrooms, he said, should instead promote unity, peace and national cohesion, and dedicate space to stories that contribute to economic growth and development under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

“As a ministry, we are ready to support media organisations like CIC by creating an enabling and conducive environment for them to operate,” he said. “Correct, verified and accurate information is paramount.”

Mr Kawana described the media as a mirror of society and stressed the need for objectivity, particularly when reporting on elections. Fair and balanced coverage, he said, remains essential for democracy to thrive. Every well-meaning Zambian, the media included, should play a part in promoting national unity and the Grow Zambia Agenda rather than leaving the task to the Government alone.

The ruling party pledged protection for journalists covering the by-elections. United Party for National Development (UPND) director of communications Mr Mark Simuuwe praised the CIC team and assured reporters of protection against politicians who might seek to harm or intimidate them.

“The UPND will support media organisations like CIC by ensuring that they operate in a peaceful and conducive political environment,” Mr Simuuwe said.

The CIC Press director said this was the organisation’s second deployment and that it felt duty-bound to give the nation timely and reliable information on the electoral process. He assured the public that the team would maintain high standards of professionalism, and appealed to political parties to respect the safety and independence of journalists by giving them unhindered access to cover the elections, regardless of their media affiliation.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set 5 November as polling day for the by-elections. These include the Mandevu parliamentary seat in Lusaka, Lumezi Constituency in Eastern Province and 11 wards across the country.

The broadcast regulator, meanwhile, gave the industry a largely clean report on its conduct during the general election. Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) director-general Mr Webster Malido said the authority was pleased with the general level of compliance by broadcasting stations. Its full report on election coverage is still being finalised.

Mr Malido said isolated infractions had been handled administratively, with some already in the public domain. Touring New Apostolic Church (NAC) 28 Television in Lusaka, he praised the station for setting a high benchmark for compliance during and after the polls, and urged its board and management to keep inspiring other industry players to follow broadcasting guidelines.

The ECZ by-elections, with nominations opening this week, will be the next test of the media conduct the Government and the regulator are calling for.

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