A Zambian court has sentenced two men to two years in prison with hard labour after they were found guilty of attempting to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema.
The convicts, Mozambican national Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Zambian village chief Leonard Phiri, were arrested in December after being caught with charms, including a live chameleon. Police reported that the items were intended for rituals aimed at killing the president.
Delivering the ruling in Lusaka, Magistrate Fine Mayambu was firm in his judgment. “The motive of the crime was to kill the head of state,” he declared. He added that the actions of the accused went beyond targeting one individual. “The convicts were not only enemies of the head of state but all Zambians. I therefore sentence them to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour from the date of their arrest.”
The case has drawn significant attention due to the unusual nature of the crime. Witchcraft-related cases still carry weight in parts of the region, where cultural beliefs intertwine with legal proceedings.
Prosecutors revealed that the men were allegedly hired by the brother of opposition MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who is currently facing separate charges of robbery, attempted murder, and escaping custody.
The ruling underscores Zambia’s hard stance against practices tied to witchcraft, particularly when linked to threats against national leadership. For many, the case is also a stark reminder of the risks public figures face, not just from conventional threats but from cultural practices that continue to influence segments of society.
By Lucky Anyanje