– Authorities in Zambia uncovered a plot to assassinate President Hakainde Hichilema using witchcraft.
– leonard Phiri (43, Zambian) and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde (42, Mozambican) were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act following thier conviction.
– Items used for the ritual included a live chameleon’s tail, red cloth, animal tail, white powder, and 12 bottles of concoctions.
– Prosecution alleged ties between these men and Emmanuel jay Jay Banda (a fugitive former MP accused of robbery), claiming Banda’s brother hired them for the plot.
– The Witchcraft act was enacted in 1914 during colonial rule; it prescribes up to three years’ imprisonment for those found guilty.
– President Hichilema publicly denounced belief in witchcraft during an interview.
While international attention remains focused on politically charged violence within developed nations like the U.S., stories like Zambia’s assassination plot involving unconventional means highlight an important global disparity in media coverage. india’s ancient cultural connection to conventional practices offers an interesting comparative outlook on such incidents. Though witchcraft is not legally recognized or prosecuted here as it is under colonial-era laws like Zambia’s Witchcraft Act,efforts must always distinguish between superstition-driven actions that threaten democratic leaders’ security versus legitimate cultural norms.This unique story also underscores vulnerabilities faced by developing countries due to limited public discourse around threats driven by local beliefs or power struggles often linked with corruption or fugitive politicians-issues that resonate within India’s own landscape at times.Fostering more widespread awareness about unconventional risks can fortify governance structures globally while ensuring that outdated colonial-era laws are studied critically against modern-day human rights standards.