Malembe said the crowd did not believe the virus, which has so far killed more than 130 in eastern DR Congo, was real.
“People are not properly informed or sensitised about what is happening. For a certain segment of the population, especially in remote areas, Ebola is an invention by outsiders – it does not exist,” the politician said.
“They believe it is the NGOs and hospitals creating this to make money, and this is tragic.”
He said two tents had been burned down, along with a body that had been due to be buried.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends “safe and dignified burials” for Ebola victims, with trained teams using protective equipment to handle bodies.
Six patients had been receiving treatment in the tents on the grounds of the hospital – and it was reported they may have fled in the mayhem.
But according to the medical charity Alima, which reportedly ran the tents, they are all accounted for and “are currently being cared for at the hospital”, external.