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Zambian Witchdoctors Jailed After Plot to Kill President Hichilema
A courtroom story that gripped the nation
In Lusaka this week, a case that seemed more like folklore than reality ended with two men being sent to prison. The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court sentenced 43-year-old Leonard Phiri and 42-year-old Jasten Mabulesse Candunde to two years and six months in jail with hard labour. Their crime: plotting to use witchcraft to harm Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema.
The men, one Zambian and one Mozambican, were arrested in December last year after authorities uncovered their plan to attack the head of state within five days. Police evidence included a video where Phiri described how the tail of a chameleon, mixed with other substances, could kill a person.
Witchcraft on trial
Magistrate Fine Mayambu delivered a firm judgment. He noted that while both men were first-time offenders, their intention had been nothing short of assassination. If their plan had succeeded, he said, the country would have faced severe economic losses and instability. For that reason, a custodial sentence was unavoidable.
Phiri and Candunde received 24 months on one count and six months on another, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Tradition, belief, and the law
This case has stirred conversation in Zambia and beyond because it sits at the intersection of traditional beliefs and modern justice. Witchcraft has deep cultural roots across parts of Africa, where charms and spells are still seen by some as powerful forces. Yet, when such practices enter the political space and threaten lives, the courts have made it clear they will treat them as criminal acts.
Social media reactions have been mixed. Some users mocked the idea that charms could endanger a sitting president, while others highlighted that belief in witchcraft remains very real for many communities, making the case no laughing matter. For supporters of Hichilema, the conviction is a reassurance that the state will protect the president and punish anyone who tries to destabilise the country.
A warning for the future
While the story of a chameleon’s tail used as a weapon may sound strange, it reflects how superstition and politics can collide in unexpected and dangerous ways. Zambia’s courts have now sent a clear message: whether through modern weapons or mystical claims, attempts to harm leaders will face the same uncompromising consequence.
Also read: KwaZulu-Natal’s R500 Million Plea: A Health System on the Brink Without Specialists
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Mortons Solicitors
