Suspected ‘witches’ arrested for attempting to ‘bewitch’ Zambian president

Two males have been arrested in Zambia, accused of being “sorcerers” answerable for attempting to bewitch the president.

Police mentioned they arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri within the capital, Lusaka.

“Their supposed mission was to make use of spells to trigger hurt,” mentioned President Hakainde Hichilema, in response to the police assertion launched Friday.

Many individuals within the southern African nation imagine in witchcraft and reside in worry of it.

Police mentioned Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri had been employed by Nelson Banda, the youthful brother of MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda.

The MP was reportedly arrested final month in neighboring Zimbabwe on expenses of theft, which he denies, however has not been seen in public.

He’s additionally accused of escaping in August whereas ready to seem in court docket.

The opposition Patriotic Entrance (PF) social gathering, led by former president Edgar Lungu, has beforehand claimed the accusations had been politically motivated.

Emmanuel Banda, an impartial MP since 2021, was beforehand related to Lungu, who misplaced the presidency to Hichilema that yr.

Of their assertion, police mentioned the deputy’s youthful brother, Nelson, was “at the moment on the run.”

Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri had been charged below Zambia’s Witchcraft Act for “possession of charms”, “professing information of witchcraft” and “cruelty to wild animals”.

The 2 males had been present in possession of “matching charms”, together with a reside chameleon, police added.

They informed police that they had been promised greater than 2 million Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for his or her “mission”, in response to the police assertion.

The suspects are in police custody and can seem in court docket “quickly,” police mentioned, with out giving a particular date for the listening to. They’ve but to publicly touch upon these allegations.