Suspected “healers” were arrested for trying to “charm” the president of Zambia

Two men have been arrested in Zambia and accused of being “witch doctors” who were tasked with trying to charm the president.

Police said they arrested Justen Mabulesse Kandande and Leonard Phiri in the capital Lusaka.

“Their intended mission was to use the charms to cause harm,” police said in a statement released Friday.

Many people in the South African country believe in witchcraft and live in fear of it.

Police said Mr Kandande and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel “JJ” Banda.

The lawmaker was reportedly arrested last month in neighboring Zimbabwe on robbery charges, which he denies, but has not been seen in public.

He is also accused of escaping from custody in August while awaiting trial.

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former president Edgar Lungu, previously claimed the allegations were politically motivated.

Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that year.

In a statement, police said the deputy’s younger brother, Nelson, is “currently on the run.”

Mr Kandande and Mr Phiri were charged under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act with “possession of charms”, “admitting knowledge of witchcraft” and “cruelty to wild animals”.

Police added that “various charms” were found on the couple, including a live chameleon.

They told police they had been promised more than 2 million Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their “mission”, police said in a statement.

The suspects are being held in custody and will appear in court “soon”, the police said, but did not specify the exact date of the hearing. They have not yet publicly commented on the allegations.