Two Men Jailed for Trying to Bewitch Zambian President Hichilema

Two men have been sentenced to two years in prison with hard labor in Zambia after being found guilty of attempting to use witchcraft against President Hakainde Hichilema.

The convicts, identified as 43-year-old Zambian national Leonard Phiri and 42-year-old Mozambican citizen Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, were arrested in December 2024 with charms and ritual items, including a live chameleon, animal tails, powders, and bottles filled with strange mixtures.

Authorities said the two were allegedly hired to carry out the act, which prosecutors argued was intended to harm or even kill the president.

The court ruled against them under Zambia’s colonial-era Witchcraft Act, which criminalizes attempts to use sorcery or charms for harmful purposes. Apart from the witchcraft charge, the men were also convicted of possessing charms and cruelty to animals.

The case has drawn widespread attention both locally and internationally, highlighting the enduring role of witchcraft beliefs in Zambia’s justice system and sparking debate about the relevance of such laws in modern times.