A court in Zambia has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema. Zambian Leonard Phiri and Mozambican Jasten Mabulesse Candunde were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after being found with charms, including a live chameleon, in December. Magistrate Fine Mayambu emphasized that the convicts were not only an enemy of the head of state but symbolized a threat to all Zambians. This case is especially noteworthy as it marks the first prosecution of its kind aimed at a sitting president.
The prosecution argued that Phiri and Candunde were hired by a fugitive former Member of Parliament to bewitch Hichilema. Despite claiming to be traditional healers, the evidence led the court to convict them of two counts under the Witchcraft Act. The magistrate highlighted the societal fears associated with witchcraft, stating that the focus was not whether the accused had supernatural powers, but whether they misrepresented themselves as having such abilities.
In addition to their two-year sentence for witchcraft, the men received an additional six months for possessing charms. Their sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will serve a total of two years.
President Hichilema, who has previously stated that he does not believe in witchcraft, has not publicly commented on the ruling. The case has reignited discussions about the Witchcraft Act's origins, designed to offer protection against the societal fears surrounding witchcraft, particularly in contexts where accusations can lead to mob justice. The case has also drawn connections to ongoing discussions about witchcraft in relation to former President Edgar Lungu's burial disputes, as public sentiment grapples with the cultural ramifications of witchcraft practices in Zambia.
The prosecution argued that Phiri and Candunde were hired by a fugitive former Member of Parliament to bewitch Hichilema. Despite claiming to be traditional healers, the evidence led the court to convict them of two counts under the Witchcraft Act. The magistrate highlighted the societal fears associated with witchcraft, stating that the focus was not whether the accused had supernatural powers, but whether they misrepresented themselves as having such abilities.
In addition to their two-year sentence for witchcraft, the men received an additional six months for possessing charms. Their sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will serve a total of two years.
President Hichilema, who has previously stated that he does not believe in witchcraft, has not publicly commented on the ruling. The case has reignited discussions about the Witchcraft Act's origins, designed to offer protection against the societal fears surrounding witchcraft, particularly in contexts where accusations can lead to mob justice. The case has also drawn connections to ongoing discussions about witchcraft in relation to former President Edgar Lungu's burial disputes, as public sentiment grapples with the cultural ramifications of witchcraft practices in Zambia.
