In Zambia, a courtroom drama has unfolded that sounds more like the plot of a Nollywood supernatural thriller than a legal proceeding. Two men – Leonard Phiri of Zambia and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde of Mozambique – have been sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to kill President Hakainde Hichilema. Not with guns, poison, or political intrigue, but with… witchcraft.
Yes, you read that right. Witchcraft. And the alleged weapon of mass destruction? A live chameleon.
The case, which has gripped Zambians, is the first time anyone has ever stood trial for trying to bewitch a sitting president. According to prosecutors, the men were hired by a fugitive ex-MP to “take care” of Hichilema through supernatural means. In court, the duo insisted they were just humble traditional healers, but the magistrate wasn’t buying it.
Magistrate Fine Mayambu (whose name couldn’t be more fitting for a judge) declared:
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians.”
Harsh words, but apparently when you walk around with a chameleon and claim its pricked tail can cause death in five days, the law doesn’t take kindly to it.
Phiri even gave the court a live demonstration of how the deadly ritual would supposedly work. Imagine being in the gallery, watching a man explain how a lizard’s tail can topple a president — this was courtroom theatre at its finest.
Their lawyer, Agrippa Malando, begged for leniency, arguing that his clients were first-time offenders and could just be fined. The judge, unimpressed, handed down two years instead, with an extra six months for carrying charms. Luckily for the pair, the sentences run concurrently, so they’ll be out in time to catch the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The ruling also re-opened debate about Zambia’s Witchcraft Act of 1914 — a colonial-era law that makes it illegal to even profess magical powers. While rarely used, the law has served to protect vulnerable people (often elderly women) from mob justice after being accused of sorcery.
President Hichilema, for his part, has long said he doesn’t believe in witchcraft. Perhaps wisely, he’s stayed silent on the case, leaving others to argue whether Phiri and Candunde were dangerous sorcerers or simply victims of outdated laws.
Meanwhile, in the public imagination, the chameleon has taken on celebrity status. One can only hope it has since retired from political life and is now basking peacefully in a warm terrarium somewhere.
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
