Government has expressed concern and unequivocal disapproval of the emergence of campaign materials, particularly songs and other mass messaging tools that promote unsubstantiated and offensive allegations against individuals or groups in the political landscape.

Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana says democracy thrives on robust debate, competing ideas and free expression of policy alternatives.

Mr Kawana says there is a fundamental and non-negotiable distinction between constructive political engagement and reckless propagation of defamatory claims.

In a statement issued in Lusaka, the Permanent Secretary noted that the recent use of campaign songs to label individuals or institutions with grave accusations such as satanism or tribal discrimination, represent a dangerous departure from the standards of responsible political discourse.

“Such claims are not merely political rhetoric, they are serious accusations with significant moral, social and legal implications.

“In any just and democratic society, allegations of this magnitude are matters for competent courts of law. They require credible evidence, due process, and judicial determination,” he explained.

Mr Kawana added that it is not the role of campaign platforms, artistic expressions, or political propaganda to adjudicate guilt or substitute for legal processes.

“We must be clear, the deliberate spread of unverified and inflammatory accusations undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust, and threatens national cohesion.

“It risks inciting division, deepening societal fault lines and shifting the focus of the electoral process away from substantive policy issues that directly impact citizens’ lives,” he cautioned