Lusaka, Zambia —Two men have been sent to prison for trying to use witchcraft to kill Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The court sentenced Leonard Phiri, 43, from Zambia, and Jasten Candunde, 42, from Mozambique, to two years in prison with hard labor.
This strange and shocking case was tried under a very old law from 1914, which bans the use of sorcery or pretending to have magical powers. Even today, this law is still used to punish people who try to harm others using witchcraft.
The court said the men’s actions were dangerous and a threat to national security.
During the trial, prosecutors said that the two men were found in a hotel room in Lusaka with:
A live chameleon in a bottle
An animal tail
12 bottles of mysterious mixtures
These items were part of a magical spell they believed could kill the president.
They were caught after a hotel cleaner heard strange sounds coming from their room and informed the police.
The investigation later revealed that they may have been hired by the brother of a former politician, making the plot even more serious and political.
In court, the men asked the judge to forgive them, but the judge said their plan was too serious to ignore. “You tried to use witchcraft to kill the head of state. This is a big crime that puts the whole country in danger,” the magistrate said.
Although Zambia is a Christian country, many people still believe in witchcraft. A 2018 report by the Zambia Law Development Commission said almost 80% of Zambians believe in supernatural powers. Beliefs in witchcraft are still strong in many parts of Africa.
This case has started a public debate: Should old colonial witchcraft laws still be used today? Some people say they are outdated, but legal experts believe these laws are still useful in preventing harm and fear in society.
This case shows that traditional beliefs can still lead to serious crimes—even attempts to harm a president.
It also reminds the public that using witchcraft or claiming to have magical powers can still lead to real legal punishment, even in modern Africa.
