A viral video circulating on social media claims that vendors in Lusaka stoned police officers during an operation to remove them from undesignated trading areas. However, an iVerify Zambia fact-check found the claim to be false. Analysis of the footage revealed multiple visual and audio anomalies consistent with AI-generated content, while AI-detection tools also identified the video as artificially generated. Additionally, no credible media outlet or official authority has reported such an incident. The video is therefore not authentic and should not be relied upon as evidence of a real event.
Claim:
On 23 August 2026, a Facebook page called Zambia Eye 247 published a video with the caption:
“Vendors have stoned police officers in Lusaka as they tried to chase them from inappropriate selling places.”
The video depicts three police officers running towards a police van in what appears to be a market while a group of marketeers allegedly throws stones at them.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia conducted a fact-check and found the claim to be false. A forensic review of the video identified multiple visual and audio anomalies consistent with AI-generated content. The voices attributed to the police officers sound artificial and lack the natural speech patterns expected in authentic recordings. Similarly, the officers’ movements as they run towards the vehicle appear distorted and mechanically rendered rather than natural.
Additional inconsistencies are visible in the actions of the alleged marketeers. Their movements, particularly while throwing stones, exhibit unnatural motion and visual artefacts commonly associated with AI-generated videos.
To further verify the content, iVerify Zambia analysed the video using AI-detection tools. The assessment indicated that the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, iVerify Zambia found no reports from credible news organisations or official authorities confirming that such an incident occurred in Lusaka.
Conclusion
The claim that vendors stoned police officers in Lusaka, as depicted in the circulating video, is false. The video displays multiple visual and audio characteristics consistent with AI-generated content, and AI-detection analysis further indicates that it was created using artificial intelligence. There is also no credible evidence or independent reporting to support the alleged incident. This case highlights the growing use of AI-generated content to spread misinformation and underscores the importance of critically assessing videos circulating online before sharing them, particularly during periods of heightened public interest such as elections.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related or public affairs information, verify that it comes from credible and official sources. If you encounter suspicious claims, images, or videos, submit them to iVerify Zambia for verification.
Email: factcheck@panos.org.zm
WhatsApp: +260 762 974 750
Note: We have deliberately excluded a link to the false content to avoid amplifying the misinformation.
Together, we can reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, promote access to accurate and verified information, and help protect the integrity of public discourse.
