By the Independent Correspondent
Monday, 2nd February, 2026
Brutality Is Not Due Process: The Real Issue Behind the Viral ZAMFRESH Video
The recent press statement issued by the Zambia Police Service regarding the viral video at ZAMFRESH Company attempts to frame the matter as a straightforward case of forgery, uttering of false documents, and theft by servant. However, what the public is reacting to is not merely the allegation of theft. It is the brutal manner in which a young Zambian woman was manhandled by foreign nationals.
That distinction is critical.
According to the police statement, the two Chinese supervisors were “restraining the suspect pending police intervention.” Yet the video that has triggered national outrage appears to show far more than reasonable restraint. The force used was excessive, humiliating, and degrading. In any democratic society governed by the rule of law, the use of such force by private individuals—especially employers—raises serious legal and moral questions.
Even if an offense was suspected, Zambia is governed by law, not by private punishment. Employers do not have the mandate to violently subdue employees. That responsibility lies with law enforcement officers trained in lawful arrest procedures. Anything beyond reasonable restraint borders on extrajudicial conduct.
Extrajudicial action, by definition, refers to punishment or coercive force carried out without legal process. When civilians assume the role of police, judge, and enforcer, the rule of law is undermined. The public concern is therefore not about shielding anyone from accountability for theft. It is about safeguarding basic human dignity and constitutional protections.
What has further troubled many citizens is the tone of the police statement. The detailed narration of alleged crimes, recovery of money, and CCTV corroboration appears to focus heavily on validating the employer’s position. Meanwhile, there is little acknowledgment of whether the force used during the restraint is itself under investigation. Clearly the UPND must recast on their actions and start representing the interests of citizens. Zambian’s are suffering under the watch of Mr. Hichilema and his followers who put foreign interest ahead of any Zambian interest.
The public deserves clarity on two simple questions:
Are the actions of the two supervisors being investigated with the same urgency as the alleged theft?
Has the Hakainde regime become so immersed in its actions against of brutality that it no longer recognizes brutality against citizens?
If the police are committed to fairness and impartiality, then the standard must apply equally. The law does not change based on nationality, economic status, or corporate power. Any employee accused of theft must face due process. Likewise, any individual—Zambian or foreign—who uses excessive force must also face scrutiny under the law.
The outrage is not about protecting criminality. It is about rejecting brutality.
Zambia is a sovereign nation governed by constitutional principles or at least that’s what it was before August 2021 and is poised to go that way after August 2026. No company, regardless of ownership, should operate outside the boundaries of lawful conduct. The viral nature of the video is a reflection of a deeper public anxiety: the fear that economic influence may sometimes overshadow justice.
If the Zambia Police Service truly remains committed to ensuring that “justice is administered in a fair, impartial, and lawful manner,” then the investigation must be holistic. It must examine not only the alleged forgery and theft, but also whether the restraint was proportionate, lawful, and respectful of human rights.
Due process cannot be selective.
Zambians are not demanding impunity for suspects. They are demanding dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law.
You can view the video in question on the link below and make your own judgement; ##https://twitter.com/i/status/2028109360241471728##
