A Zambian court has sentenced two men to two and a half years in prison after finding them guilty of attempting to kill President Hakainde Hichilema through witchcraft, in a case that has stunned the nation and reignited debate over colonial-era laws.
Leonard Phiri, a Zambian, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, a Mozambican national, were accused of being hired by a fugitive former Member of Parliament to carry out the bizarre plot. Prosecutors told the court that the duo was found in possession of charms, including a live chameleon, a red cloth, white powder, and an animal’s tail, allegedly meant to be used in rituals targeting the head of state.
Despite their insistence that they were bona fide traditional healers performing legitimate cultural practices, the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court ruled otherwise. Magistrate Fine Mayambu declared the men guilty on two counts under the Witchcraft Act — a 1914 colonial-era law that criminalises professing witchcraft and the possession of charms. They were handed two years for “professing witchcraft” and an additional six months for unlawful possession, with the sentences to run concurrently.
“The accused are not just enemies of the President but enemies of all Zambians,” the magistrate said while delivering judgment, dismissing pleas for leniency from the defense, which had argued that the men were first-time offenders deserving of fines instead of custodial sentences.
The case has sparked widespread reaction across Zambia. While some citizens praised the conviction as a deterrent against those who threaten national security, others criticised the use of the Witchcraft Act, describing it as vague, outdated, and discriminatory against traditional practices. Human rights observers warn that such prosecutions could deepen divisions in a country where belief in witchcraft remains strong despite Christian influence.
Beyond the courtroom, the trial carries heavy political undertones. With national elections approaching, critics suggest the ruling could be used to reinforce state power and silence dissent. Others see it as a stark reminder of the enduring collision between modern governance, traditional spirituality, and laws inherited from the colonial era.
For now, the sentencing of Phiri and Candunde stands as both a legal precedent and a cultural flashpoint — placing Zambia at the crossroads of faith, politics, and justice.
