A court in Zambia has sentenced Leonard Phiri and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde to two years in prison for their failed attempt to kill President Hakainde Hichilema using witchcraft.
The two men were arrested in December with charms, including a live chameleon, and were subsequently convicted under Zambia's Witchcraft Act, which serves to dissuade practices that invoke public fear and harm.
During the trial, Magistrate Fine Mayambu emphasized the societal implications of the charges, stating that the convicts were enemies of not just the president but of the Zambian people as a whole.
The prosecution revealed that the duo was allegedly hired by a fugitive ex-MP to bewitch Hichilema. While they claimed to be traditional healers, the court found substantial evidence of their intentions to invoke supernatural powers.
Magistrate Mayambu noted that many Zambians still hold strong beliefs in witchcraft despite its lack of scientific validity. He also reiterated that the case represented a significant chapter in the enforcement of laws related to witchcraft in the country.
In their defense, lawyers for the men sought leniency due to their status as first-time offenders, but this appeal was ultimately rejected.
The ruling carries historical weight as it is reportedly the first successful prosecution for witchcraft-related crimes directed at a president in Zambia, raising discussions about the broader implications of witchcraft beliefs in the region.
President Hichilema has expressed disbelief in witchcraft and chose to refrain from commenting on this highly publicized case.
