Witchcraft story comical, says Dr Mwelwa
By BARNABAS ZULU
The two, a Zambian and Mozambican were arrested near State House for allegedly planning to bewitch President Hichilema.
They have since appeared in court, where they pleaded guilty to the charges but denied any intention of causing harm to the head of State.
In a statement released yesterday, Dr. Mwelwa has sharply criticised the bizarre case, which involves accusations that the two men had used a live chameleon and a collection of charms as part of their alleged plot.
“I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. We are in the 21st century, and yet, we are talking about chameleons, charms, and witchcraft in relation to our modern political landscape,” Dr. Mwelwa said, mocking the absurdity of the claims. “This is more comedy than real life,” he said.
The two men, identified as Jasten Mabulesse Candude and Leonard Phiri, are said to have been hired by Nelson Banda, allegedly linked to opposition politics, to carry out the plot.
According to police reports, Banda, who is the younger brother of a runaway Petauke Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Jay Banda, allegedly paid the men K16, 500 as advance payment, with the promise of additional funds upon successful completion of their mission.
Candude, one of the accused, admitted to possessing charms but denied any malicious intent.
“I admit I have the charms; that’s my work,” he said, as though defending a harmless practice rather than addressing accusations of plotting against the President.
The case has sparked both laughter and concern across the nation, with many questioning whether this is a deliberate effort to undermine political opponents.
Critics have noted that Phiri is a prominent political figure in Petauke, where a by-election is set to take place.
Some speculate that the witchcraft allegations could be a strategic move to discredit him in the run-up to the election.
The timing of the charges has added to the speculation, as political observers point out the potential motives behind the accusations.
“If political rivals cannot be defeated at the ballot box, why not accuse them of using ancient magic to harm the president?” Dr. Mwelwa wondered, suggesting that the accusations may be part of a larger political strategy to harangue political opponents.
“In this courtroom, we see the tensions between tradition and progress, a reminder of how far we still have to go in reconciling our modern state with the remnants of the past,” Dr Mwelwa said.
