By Esther Chisola
A state witness has told the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that the chameleon that is part of the charms allegedly supposed to be used to harm President Hakainde Hichilema was taken to Munda Wanga Rehabilitation Centre.
Bright Nkhoma, an officer from the Wildlife Department in Lilayi also told the court that he received instructions from the arresting officer to dispose off the chameleon.
Nkoma was testifying in a matter in which Leonard Phiri, 43,from Sinda, Eastern Province and Jasten Candunde, 42, from Mozambique are facing two counts of possessing charms and professing knowledge of witchcraft in an alleged plot to bewitch the Head of State.
When the matter came up for continued trial, the witness testified that on November 28, 2024, his department of Wildlife and National Parks was approached by the arresting officer named Liswaniso who came to Chilanga with two suspects and a live sub Saharan chameleon.
He said the officer requested him to dispose off the chameleon to which he did.
“I prepared the disposal order and later came to court with the suspects. When we reached here at the magistrate, the clerk of court inspected the chameleon in the presence of suspects and the latter of disposal was signed by the courts with instructions to take it back to Wildlife,” he said.
The witness further said that following the court’s directive, he transported the chameleon to the rehabilitation center in Munda Wanga.
“I adhered to the court’s instructions and took the animal to Munda wanga rehabilitation center. And the official disposal order remains in my custody,” he said.
In cross-examination, asked if indeed he took the chameleon to Munda Wanga, he responded in the affirmative.
Asked if he went back to Munda Wanga to get it, he responded in the negative.
Further asked if he brought it before court, he responded in the negative.
And asked if a chameleon was a charm, he responded in the affirmative.
“We are Africans. We practice charms. I have experienced that because I’m from the village. It is a charm,” said Nkhoma.
The matter comes up on March 5 and 7 2025.
