ANY attempt by a person to take away one’s life in any way should be taken seriously. Anything to do with the Head of State becomes a matter of public interest, the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court stated before sentencing two juju men.
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Lusaka Magistrate Fine Mayambu sentenced two self-styled juju men convicted of plotting spiritual harm on President Hakainde Hichilema to two years imprisonment.
The court yesterday handed the sentence to Jasten Candunde, 42 of Maravia in Mozambique and Leonard Phiri, 43 of Sinda in Eastern Province, after finding them guilty of professing knowledge of witchcraft and possession of charms, offences under the Witchcraft Act.
The duo, who became infamous as juju assassins, were arrested in December last year after allegedly being hired by former Petauke Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda through his brother Nelson Banda to carry out rituals aimed at ending the President’s life within five days.
Fortunately, they were caught in Lusaka with charms that included a live chameleon.
In mitigation, their lawyer pleaded for leniency, arguing that the pair were first offenders, had already spent months in custody and that the President himself has previously said he does not believe in witchcraft.
But Magistrate Mayambu said such a defence could not reduce the gravity of the offence.
“If the convicts had executed their mission, God forbid, it would have led to the death of the President. The death of the President comes with a lot of negative things on the nation. The convicts were not just the enemy of the President at the time but also the enemy of the people of Zambia at large,” ruled the magistrate.
The magistrate then sentenced both Candunde and Phiri to 24 months on one count and six months on another, to run concurrently effective their date of arrest.
Meaning the juju duo will serve two years behind bars before they can return to their shrines.
By George Musonda
Kalemba September 16, 2025
