SOUTHERN Province Administration has refuted claims circulating on various social media platforms that oil has been discovered in Choma.
Wisdom Himanteka, Principal Public Relations Officer, Southern provincial Administration dismissed the claims stating that it was false and misleading information.
Himanteka told Kalemba in an interview that the video circulating that oil had been discovered should be treated as fake and unfounded.
“Choma has nothing like that, there is totally nothing like oil, it is a fake story, very fake and nothing of that nature has been discovered,” he said.
Himanteka urged the public to treat the story as fake, unfounded and unethical.
“The information is a product of yellow journalism coupled with propaganda aimed at misinforming the public,” he said.
And Himanteka in a statement, he emphasized that claims made in the video are completely unsubstantiated and lack any scientific or geological basis.
“No official report or confirmation has been issued by any relevant authority, including the Ministry of Mines or the Geological Survey Department, to support such a discovery in Choma or any part of Southern Province.”
“This type of irresponsible and fake reporting is highly regrettable,” he said.
Himanteka said the information has the potential to create unnecessary excitement, attract opportunistic behavior, and disrupt peace and order in the affected communities.
“We urge members of the public to treat the video with the contempt it deserves and avoid sharing or spreading it further.”
“The Provincial Administration encourages the public to rely only on official government communication channels for credible and verified information. Any legitimate discovery of oil or other natural resources would be publicly announced through formal procedures and supported by credible technical data,” he said.
He has since urged content creators and social media users to verify information before publishing or sharing it online.
“The spread of false information is not only unethical but may also attract legal consequences under existing laws that govern the dissemination of misinformation.”
“We thank the public for their continued vigilance and cooperation in ensuring that only accurate and verified information is shared for the benefit of all citizens,” he said.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba June 16, 2025
