On any given day in, a rumour can begin with a single post. A voice note shared in any WhatsApp group. A blurry video forwarded without context. A headline designed to provoke more than inform.

For many Zambians, the digital space has become both empowering and overwhelming a place where information flows freely, but not always faithfully. Within minutes, information can travel from Lusaka to Livingstone, from a market stall to a newsroom, from a private chat to a public debate. For many Zambians, the digital space has become both empowering and overwhelming a place where information flows freely, but not always faithfully.

As the country looks ahead to the 2026 General Elections, the stakes are rising. Elections are moments of hope and high emotion. They invite debate, sharpen political competition and amplify public voices. But they also create fertile ground for misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

It is in this environment that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf), re-launched iVerify Zambia 2.0 a strengthened national factchecking and response mechanism designed to protect information integrity.

Speaking at the re-launch Minister of Information and Media Mr Thabo Kawana Permanent Secretary represented by Director Press and Media Mr Morden Mayembe, Mr Kawana, stressed that the platform’s success depends on broad participation. “It is not a task for government or media alone, he noted, but one that requires engagement from civil society, academia, digital platforms and citizens themselves,” he said. 

Panos Institute Southern Africa Executive Director Mr Vusumuzi Sifile described iVerify Zambia as a frontline response identifying falsehoods, verifying claims and promoting a culture of accuracy, accountability and trust.

Five years ago, misinformation was already a concern, but today’s digital landscape is fundamentally different. Artificial intelligence tools can generate convincing text, images and even voice recordings in seconds. Algorithms can amplify sensational content faster than traditional news can correct it. Coordinated online campaigns can give the appearance of widespread public opinion where none exists.

False claims about candidates can damage reputations overnight. Hate speech can silence voices especially those of women, young people and persons with disabilities who already face barriers to political participation.

iVerify Zambia was first established in 2021 as a platform to verify claims and respond to misinformation during the electoral cycle. It created a collaborative space where media houses, civil society organisations and election stakeholders could work together to promote accurate information.

Now, iVerify Zambia 2.0 has evolved to meet a more complex digital reality. The re-engineered platform integrates AI-enabled monitoring and early-warning systems with rigorous human verification processes. It is designed not only to debunk falsehoods after they spread, but to detect patterns early and coordinate timely responses.

Speaking at the re-launch, United Nations Resident Coordinator Beatrice Mutali acknowledged how the landscape has shifted.

“With the launch of iVerify Zambia 2.0, we acknowledge that today’s challenges are more complex than those faced five years ago when the mechanism was first established,” she said. “AI has fundamentally altered the scale, speed and sophistication of manipulation.”

Ms Mutali said hate speech continues to polarise communities and intimidate candidates during elections, particularly women, young people, persons with disabilities and other historically marginalised groups.

“iVerify Zambia creates a shared platform for detection, verification and response,” Ms Mutali said. 

Beyond technology, leaders at the launch emphasised that credible information ecosystem is deeply tied to democratic inclusion.

UNDP Resident Representative Dr. James Wakiaga underscored that the issue goes beyond fact-checking tools and digital systems.

“Safeguarding information integrity is not just about technology it is a matter of inclusion, equality and protecting democratic participation for women, young people and persons with disabilities,” he said.

“As Zambia approaches the 2026 General Elections, access to accurate, timely and verified information is essential for public trust, peaceful participation and democratic stability,” Dr. Wakiaga added.

For first-time voters and seasoned political observers alike, access to credible information shapes not only opinions but confidence in the democratic process itself.

One of the defining features of iVerify Zambia 2.0 is its coalition-based approach. Implemented under the National Action Coalition on Information Integrity in Elections, it brings together media institutions, civil society organisations, government bodies, digital platforms and development partners.

Electoral Commission of Zambia Corporate Affairs Manager & Chairperson, National Action Coalition on Information Integrity in Elections Patricia Luhanga said, Information integrity is not an abstract concept, it is a practical requirement for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.

“The re-launch of iVerify Zambia shows that Zambia is not waiting to react to crises, but is investing in prevention, preparedness and resilience,” She said.

In an era where algorithms can amplify falsehoods in seconds, Zambia’s renewed commitment to verification signals that truth, too, can be organised, defended and sustained As Zambia moves closer to the 2026 polls, the renewed platform positions itself as more than a short-term intervention.