Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
Details surrounding socialite Natalie Mhandu’s witchcraft allegations, fallout with maid and subsequent arrest emerged yesterday after her initial appearance in court yesterday.
Natalie was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate Sikhethile Moyo, who released her unconditionally.
Issues of bail did not arise as she was coming from home.
According to the State’s papers, Natalie allegedly asked her former maid Elizabeth Mharire 48, to accompany her to see her traditional healer Christine Matashu alias Manjenjenje in Glen View.
The maid agreed and they headed to Matashu’s residence in Glen Norah and picked her up before they headed to Churu Farm in Glen View where Natalie allegedly intended to cast a spell on the complainant.
They arrived at a bushy area at the farm where Matashu allegedly started giving Natalie instructions on how to cast the spell.
She allegedly took out a red cloth and wrote several names including Mwarianesu, Amanda, Ishmael and Tariro Maumbe.
After writing the names, she handed it over to Matashu who took it and tied snuff on to the cloth.
She instructed Natalie to dig a hole and bury the cloth and a knife known in Shona as bakatwa while uttering her wishes and she complied.
After casting the spell, they returned home.
It is further alleged that on July 5, Mharire returned home from town and discovered that snuff had been scattered all over her bedroom and her belongings.
Mharire confronted Natalie, who allegedly told her that she had dropped her snuff in the bedroom by mistake.
The maid allegedly went to her bathroom and saw snuff on the toilet seat and when she asked Natalie why she was doing all those things, she allegedly responded that it was the maid’s ancestral spirit that had done those things.
The maid allegedly told Natalie that she could no longer work for her.
Natalie in response allegedly took Mharire’s phone and deleted all her picture saying she did not want her to post them on social media.
On July 9, Mharire informed the complainant that Natalie had cast a bad spell on her and she asked to be taken to the place.
The next day, she packed her belongings and left Mhandu’s residence. On August 14, she accompanied the complainant to Churu farm where they dug up the cloth and the knife.
Natalie is expected back in court on August 13 for trial commencement.
