In Zambia, two men were sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to kill President Hakainde Hichilema using witchcraft. The men used charms, including a live chameleon, to perform a ritual that they believed would result in the death of the country's leader.
"Both of them acknowledged ownership of the charms. Firi also demonstrated that the tail of the chameleon, if pierced and used in the ritual, would cause death within five days"
The lawyer for the convicted attempted to seek leniency in the sentence, citing the lack of previous convictions for his clients. However, the court decided not to relent, imposing a two-year prison sentence for performing the witchcraft ritual and six months for possession of charms.
The Witchcraft Act in Zambia
The Witchcraft Act was enacted in Zambia back in 1914. Although prosecutions for witchcraft allegations in the country are rare, sometimes individuals, particularly elderly women in villages, face such accusations.
In Zambia, two men were sentenced to imprisonment for attempting to kill President Hichilema using witchcraft. They used charms, including a live chameleon, for a ritual that, according to them, was supposed to end with the death of the country's leader. The court decided not to fine the convicted, imposing a two-year term for "practicing" witchcraft and six months for possession of charms.