Two males had been arrested in Zambia accused of being “witchdoctors” who have been tasked with seeking to bewitch the president.

The police mentioned that they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri within the capital, Lusaka.

“Their purported mission was to use charms to harm” President Hakainde Hichilema, mentioned the police commentary, exempt on Friday.

Many family within the southern African nation imagine in – and reside in concern of – spell.

The police mentioned Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri had been leased by way of Nelson Banda, the more youthful brother of MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda.

The MP was once reportedly arrested closing while in neighbouring Zimbabwe over theft fees, which he denies, however he has now not been unhidden in crowd.

He’s additionally accused of getting escaped from custody in August as he awaited to look in courtroom.

The opposition Patriotic Entrance (PF) birthday party, led by way of former President Edgar Lungu, has prior to now alleged that those fees are politically enthusiastic.

Emmanuel Banda, who has been an sovereign MP since 2021, was once prior to now related to Lungu, who misplaced the presidency to Hichilema that time.

Of their commentary, the police mentioned the MP’s more youthful brother, Nelson, was once “currently on the run”.

Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri had been charged below Zambia’s Spell Occupation with “possession of charms”, “professing knowledge of witchcraft” and “cruelty to wild animals”.

The pair had been present in ownership of “assorted charms”, together with a reside chameleon, the police added.

They advised the police that they had been promised greater than 2m Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for his or her “mission”, in step with the police commentary.

The suspects are being held in custody and can seem in courtroom “soon”, the police mentioned, however didn’t give a precise generation for the listening to. They have got now not but commented in crowd at the allegations.