Leonard Phiri, a 43-year-old Zambian, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, a 42-year-old Mozambican, had been arrested in December with numerous charms, together with a dwell chameleon. Authorities say they’re practising witch medical doctors.
Investigators say the boys had been employed by Nelson Banda, the youthful brother of former impartial lawmaker Emmanuel Banda who allegedly paid them to hurt the president utilizing conventional charms and spells.
Native studies point out that in a court docket session in Lusaka, 4 witnesses testified that the boys had charms in a rented home.
Immigration officer George Mwale mentioned Candunde admitted that Banda had employed them.
“He mentioned he was recruited by Banda’s brother to make use of witchcraft in opposition to the president,” Mwale advised the court docket.
Police say they discovered a dwell chameleon in a sealed bottle, 14 empty bottles with conventional drugs, an animal tail, and unknown powdered substances. Phiri admitted that a number of the gadgets belonged to him however denied utilizing them for witchcraft. The suspects insisted that they had authorized paperwork permitting them to own the gadgets.
Authorities initially mentioned the boys had been promised 2 million Zambian kwacha ($7,000) for the job, however the court docket later heard the actual supply was 43 million kwacha.
Phiri and Candunde face costs of claiming to have information of witchcraft, possessing charms, and cruelty to wild animals. The trial will proceed on February 26.
