Two men — one Zambian, one Mozambican — have been sentenced to two years behind bars after trying to use witchcraft to harm Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema.
The pair were arrested last December while carrying charms and a live chameleon, which authorities said were meant to cast spells.
The case was tried under Zambia’s colonial-era Witchcraft Act, which still makes it a crime to use sorcery or supernatural practices.
The court ruled that the men’s actions were a serious attempt to use black magic against the head of state.
While some people believe the law is outdated, others say it reflects Zambia’s deep-rooted cultural beliefs.
The conviction has sparked wider debate on whether traditional spiritual beliefs have a place in modern legal systems — especially when they cross into politics.
Critics argue it’s time for reform, but for now, the law stands, and these two men are serving time for casting spells with serious intentions.
