Judiciary to televise trial of juju men who tried to bewitch Hichilema
THE Judiciary has announced that the trial of two self-proclaimed witch doctors accused of attempting to cast a spell on President Hakainde Hichilema will be televised.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14wchYa659/?mibextid=oFDknk
The authorities confirmed yesterday that preparations were underway, with a scheduled meeting at the Lusaka Magistrate Complex taking place at to assess the camera setup ahead of the trial, which is set to commence on February 18, 2025.
The accused, Leonard Phiri aged 43 from Sinda district of Eastern Province and Jasten Candunde aged 42 from Mozambique face charges under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act.
The duo is accused of possessing charms and professing knowledge of witchcraft in their alleged plot to bewitch the Head of State.
Police investigations suggest that Phiri and Candunde were allegedly hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of embattled former independent member of parliament for Petauke Central Emmanuel Jay Banda who is currently on the run.
The witch doctors were reportedly promised K2 million for their services but only received an advance payment of K16,500 before their scheme crumbled.
However, the juju men were caught before they could even cast a spell on the Seventh Day Adventist master guide (President Hichilema).
During their arrest, authorities found the witch doctors in possession of various charms, including a live chameleon and a tortoise believed to be tools of their trade.
The accused, however insisted that they are certified traditional healers affiliated with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (Thapaz).
On January 20, 2025, the two spiritual practitioners were denied bail by Magistrate Fines Mayambu after the State argued that they posed a flight risk.
The prosecution revealed that Phiri had previously attempted to escape custody, prompting the court to keep both men behind bars until trial.
Meanwhile, Phiri requested medical attention, citing a headache and a cough while Candunde asked for a Chewa interpreter before the trial begins.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, February 13, 2025
Don’t stop televising when they start disclosing the involvement of State House who really want to implicate ECL and his associates. This movie UPND is creating has no good ending like always.
Straight from the horses mouth.
Why not use the witch doctors service to bring
Back JJ and his brother .
This Banda family is a curse… satanic behaviour. They were very badly brought up. Shame onto their parents. No wonder ine is doing sisters…no morals. This is poverty of the mind at its best
I think all the world’s broadcasters will be in the court to witness just how backward he is. CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera etc. etc. will all come to see his foolishness.
Vote like they do in Southern province.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
Vote wisely in 2026.
Abena indigo fimo fimo,
There is nothing backward about giving conspirators to anyone’s murder enough visibility to sign their own conviction and life sentence in both the actual court and the court of public opinion.
Unless you are a documented imbecile, this is a brilliant move to counter the false information and fake victimisation alleged by the JJ Banda sympathy cohort. This case will speak to the depth of criminality reached by JJ Banda and the network of conspirators that assembled themselves to smear and demonise an innocent man. The career status of JJ Banda’s criminality will be displayed for fools like you Bwana Indigo to see and still deny it. It exposes the once hidden malice engineered against an innocent man. The devil’s greatest trick in his armoury is to make people believe he doesn’t exist. You Indigo, are very busy advancing that lie and should be promoted to a general in Satan’s confederate army. BRAVO
Welcome to Zambia, living in the medieval Jungles of Africa.. Even wizards can be convicted for Treason.. Chameleons and Tortoises plotting against a President.
Let the police arrest those Luanshya bees too. Am sure they were also up to similar mischief!
Propaganda gone bananas.
For yowa information, the law does not distinguish between the methods someone uses to harm another. All they have to do is establish INTENTION. Once the motive or the intention is established, you will kambila kusogolo regardless of the method you chose to carry out those intentions.
Very selective on which cases to televise. We wanted the gold scam but since state house was implicated, the case was held in camera.
Correction Sir.
The case never took off. It died a very quiet death. They even managed to covert the pure grade gold to cheap zinc pellets.
Ala aba niba pompwe.
Worry not, they will all be caged after 2026. Starting with the commander-in-thief himself.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
Vote like they do in Southern province.
Vote wisely in 2026.
Hon Chief Justice be careful what you wish for. What you are offloading in our living rooms is a recipe for chaos in our communities.
Through this case you are raising the profile of witchcraft in Zambia , that Lizards and Tortoises can be used to kill a President. We live with these animals. Already we have innocent old people in our communities who are killed on mere suspicion of practicing witchcraft. What will stop neighbors from accusing each other of sending salamanders, lizards, tortoises, chameleons to kill them? Is the Judiciary going to handle an avalanche of cases which the raised profile of this case is likely to bring? A precedent is being created.
What of the mob justice which can be unleashed on innocent people when a Tortoise or chameleon strays into one’s premises?
If the President can be assassinated by Chameleons , what of ordinary citizens?
Let us be serious as a government..We will start something which will become too big to handle.
A voodoo country in the 21st Century.