Two Sentenced in Zambia for Alleged Witchcraft Plot Against President

A Zambian court has sentenced two men to two years of imprisonment with hard labour after finding them guilty of attempting to kill President Hakainde Hichilema through alleged witchcraft. The ruling marks a first in Zambia, where no one had previously been prosecuted for an attempted witchcraft assassination against the sitting president.

The convicted individuals are Leonard Phiri, a Zambian national, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, from Mozambique. They were arrested in December following a report by a cleaner of “strange noises” emanating from a room. The court heard that the men possessed objects believed to be used in ritual magic, including a live chameleon, an unidentified white powder, a red cloth, and an animal’s tail. According to evidence, they claimed these items would cause death within five days.

They were convicted under the colonial-era Witchcraft Act, which continues to criminalise the use of witchcraft in acts intended to harm. The law dates back to Zambia’s time under British rule. The sentencing has revived debate over modern governance and traditional beliefs, particularly how legal systems in some countries address accusations involving witchcraft.

Some observers warn that use of the courts in witchcraft cases carries risks of misuse, especially when allegations intersect with political tensions. President Hichilema’s administration has previously faced accusations of using judicial actions against opponents; in this context, prosecutions linked to witchcraft are seen by some critics as an extension of that trend. However, there is no public evidence that this specific case was politically motivated.