Vice president’s office rejects alleged UK trip budget documents as fake

The Office of the Vice President has described as fake and misleading documents making rounds on social media that purport to detail a nearly K2 billion budget for Vice President Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah’s private visit to the United Kingdom, saying the papers did not originate from any government institution.

In a statement, the office’s communications and public relations officer Richard Mveriwa said the documents, which include a memorandum addressed to the Secretary to the Treasury and an itemized cost breakdown for travel, allowances and incidentals, are not official records and do not reflect approved government expenditures.

The office has meanwhile urged the public to rely only on information released through official government communication channels.

“The documents currently circulating on social media purporting to show the budget for Her Honour the Vice President’s trip to the United Kingdom are fake and misleading. They did not originate from any government institution,” reads the statement.

The response follows widespread circulation of documents dated December 12, 2025, which claim the vice president planned a private visit to Nottingham, United Kingdom, from December 26, 2025, to January 10, 2026, accompanied by a delegation of 16 officials.

The documents allege a total estimated cost of K1.96 billion, citing expenses such as first-class and business-class air tickets, daily subsistence allowances and other incidentals.

Online reports and commentary, including from governance activists such as Onjezani Kenani and Sylvester Namiwa, criticized the alleged trip as inconsistent with government austerity and public finance management measures, prompting debate on social media platforms.

In its statement, the vice president’s office warned that the deliberate spread of false information undermines public trust and said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and the responsible use of public resources.