In a crime that exposes the deadly risks of insider betrayal, Chinese farm owner Zhai Jianfeng was killed on May 29 in a meticulously planned robbery carried out, in part, by his own current and former employees, African Chinese Weekly reported. The attack, which unfolded at his Fudakang Farm in Garneton, has sent shockwaves through Zambia’s Chinese community, revealing a grim reality: disgruntled ex-workers are increasingly turning violent against their former employers.
The evening began like any other at the five-hectare farm, where Zhai and his 17-year-old son lived in a house near the entrance. The property, surrounded by walls, seemed secure—until gunshots shattered the silence.
Moments later, two familiar faces appeared at the door: one of the farm’s current security guards and a laborer Zhai had fired just two weeks earlier. They claimed Zhai had fallen gravely ill—a desperate lie to lure his son outside.
When the teenager refused, the men forced their way in, guns drawn.
The attackers—at least six in total, five of them unmasked—beat the son and demanded money. Among the assailants were not just the dismissed worker, but also two of the farm’s current security guards.
After being assaulted, the teenager was left bound and unconscious. Miraculously, he later managed to escape and reported the crime to police.
By the time authorities arrived, Zhai Jianfeng was dead—his body abandoned on the farm, his home ransacked. The attack has reignited fears among Chinese expatriates, who have seen a rise in violent crimes involving former employees.
Local authorities are investigating, while the Zambia Chinese Community Association has offered a 150,000 Kwacha reward for information leading to arrests.
