The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has heard that two men accused of being hired to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema attempted to escape from detention.
The pair, Mozambican national Jasten Mabulesse Candude and Zambian Leonard Phiri, appeared before Magistrate Fines Mayambu where they denied attempting to escape from custody.
The court, however, refused their bail application after state prosecutors highlighted their alleged escape attempts during detention.
According to the state, Phiri, who resides in Sinda and not Lusaka, had previously defied orders during investigations and allegedly tried to flee.
Despite their denials, Magistrate Mayambu ruled against granting bail, citing the gravity of the accusations and the escape allegations.
The trial was further delayed due to the unavailability of a Chewa interpreter, which is the only language Candude understands.
The case has been adjourned to February 18 for trial.
The two suspects face charges under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act, including professing knowledge of witchcraft and possession of charms, both offenses under Chapter 90 of the country’s laws. Police reports revealed that the accused were allegedly found with various charms, including a live chameleon, and are believed to have been practicing witchcraft.
They are accused of pretending to exercise supernatural powers meant to instill fear and, ultimately, harm the President.
Investigators allege that the suspects were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda, who remains at large.
According to preliminary findings, the men were promised a staggering K2 million to execute their mission, with an initial payment of K16,500 made out of an agreed K30,000 advance.
The purported mission was to harm President Hichilema using witchcraft. Police say Banda had allegedly orchestrated the plot, using the two men as his operatives.