A Zambian court has sentenced two men, Leonard Phiri from Zambia and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde from Mozambique, to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema. The two were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after their arrest in December, during which they possessed various charms, including a live chameleon.
The prosecution suggested that the men were hired by a former Member of Parliament who is currently a fugitive to carry out the act against the president. Despite claiming to be traditional healers, the court found them guilty on two counts under the Witchcraft Act. Magistrate Fine Mayambu noted that the defendants admitted ownership of the charms and included evidence suggesting that the chameleon’s tail could be used in a ritual with lethal implications.
Their lawyer, Agrippa Malando, requested leniency, arguing that his clients were first-time offenders and proposed a fine instead of imprisonment, but the court denied this request. The magistrate emphasized the relevance of the Witchcraft Act, stating that it aims to protect society from the fear and potential harm caused by individuals claiming to practice witchcraft. He highlighted that the central issue was not whether the men possessed supernatural abilities but whether they represented themselves as such.
In addition to the two-year sentence for “professing” witchcraft, the men were sentenced to an additional six months for possession of charms. However, these sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will serve only two years in total, starting from their arrest date in December 2024.
President Hichilema has previously expressed skepticism about witchcraft and has not publicly commented on this case. The Witchcraft Act, enacted during colonial rule in 1914, has rarely led to prosecutions but serves to protect vulnerable individuals from mob justice in witchcraft accusations. Meanwhile, assistance surrounding burial disputes involving the late President Edgar Lungu has also been marked by claims of occult motivations, although the government has denied these accusations.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr57rr9598o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss