2 suspected witch doctors on trial for attempting to harm Zambia's president

LUSAKA, Zambia

Two suspected witch doctors appeared Tuesday in a Zambian court on charges they attempted to "bewitch" President Hakainde Hichilema.

Leonard Phiri, 43, a Zambian, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, 42, a Mozambican, were apprehended in December in possession of assorted charms, including a live chameleon. They are alleged to be practicing witch doctors.

Preliminary investigations revealed the pair was hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of Emmanuel Banda, a former independent member of parliament, to use the charms to harm Hichilema.

During Tuesday’s session before a magistrate’s court in Lusaka, four state witnesses testified that the pair was found in possession of alleged charms in a residence they were renting in a Lusaka township.

Immigration officer George Mwale told the court that upon arresting Candunde and questioning him at immigration headquarters, the suspect disclosed that he had been hired by Banda through his brother to harm Hichilema using witchcraft.

Mwale testified that while searching the premises, officers found a live chameleon sealed in a bottle, 14 empty bottles containing traditional medicines and an unidentified animal tail.

Also recovered were powdered substances, which Phiri admitted belonged to him.

The pair denied practicing witchcraft but admitted possessing charms last year, insisting they had documents permitting possession of the items.

The trial is expected to continue Feb. 26 where the defendants are facing charges of professing knowledge of witchcraft, possession of charms and cruelty to wild animals.

At the time of the apprehension, the suspects disclosed they were promised a payment of 2 million Zambian Kwacha ($7,000) after the execution of their mission but the court on Monday heard the agreed fee was 43 million Zambian Kwacha.