Two men jailed for witchcraft plot against Zambian President

Zuko Komisa

Image | Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

A Zambian court has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.
The two men, a Zambian and a Mozambican national, were arrested in December with charms and a live chameleon in their possession.
The conviction was made under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act, a colonial-era law that remains in effect and criminalises acts of witchcraft and sorcery.

A Zambian court has handed down a two-year prison sentence to two men for their attempt to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.

The conviction, which falls under the country’s Witchcraft Act, has brought a unique case of political intrigue to light.

Leonard Phiri, a Zambian national, and Jasten Candunde, from Mozambique, were apprehended in December with various charms and a live chameleon in their possession.

Following their arrest, they were charged with the offence, with the court ruling that their actions were a serious attempt at black magic targeting the head of state.

The Witchcraft Act, which is a key part of Zambia’s legal framework, dates back to the colonial era and remains in use today.

The law defines and criminalises acts of witchcraft, sorcery, and enchanting, carrying penalties for those found to be practising them.

Critics of the law argue that it is outdated and lacks scientific basis, while others maintain that it serves a purpose in a society where belief in the supernatural remains prevalent.

The sentencing of Phiri and Candunde has sparked a conversation about the balance between traditional beliefs and modern law in Zambia.

The case serves as a striking example of how deeply entrenched cultural practices can intersect with the country’s political landscape and legal system.