Zambian Men Sentenced to Prison for Witchcraft Plot Against President Hichilema
Two men in Zambia have been sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema. Leonard Phiri and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde were found guilty under the Witchcraft Act after being caught with charms, including a live chameleon. The court ruled that they were not only a threat to the president but to all Zambians.
This case has garnered significant attention in Zambia as it marks the first trial of individuals attempting to use witchcraft against a president. The prosecution claimed that Phiri and Candunde were hired by a former MP to bewitch Hichilema. Despite their claims of being traditional healers, the court convicted them on two counts under the Witchcraft Act.
The men's lawyer requested leniency, citing their status as first-time offenders, but the court rejected the plea and sentenced them to two years in prison for professing witchcraft. They were also given an additional six-month sentence for possessing charms. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in a two-year prison term.
The Witchcraft Act, dating back to colonial rule in 1914, aims to protect society from the fear and harm caused by those claiming to possess supernatural powers. While belief in witchcraft is prevalent in Zambia and other African countries, the law serves to prevent individuals from exploiting these beliefs for harmful purposes.
President Hichilema, who has previously stated his disbelief in witchcraft, has not commented on the case. The Witchcraft Act is rarely enforced, but it plays a role in safeguarding vulnerable individuals, such as elderly women facing accusations of witchcraft in villages.
Witchcraft has also been a topic of discussion in the dispute over the burial of former President Edgar Lungu. Some speculate that the government's insistence on burying him in Zambia, against his family's wishes, may have occult implications. The government denies these claims, and Lungu's body remains in a South African morgue due to the unresolved burial disagreement.
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