Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
SOCIAL media influencer Natalie Mhandu, accused of practising witchcraft, was removed from further remand yesterday as her trial failed to commence as scheduled.
The State will summon her to court once it is prepared to proceed.
Prosecutors informed the court that they were not ready for trial, as they intended to obtain a statement from Zinatha and needed to secure a video from cyber experts.
Presiding magistrate Ms Sikhethile Moyo expressed her dissatisfaction with the State’s lack of readiness and ordered them to proceed by way of summons once investigations are complete.
According to the State’s papers, Mhandu allegedly instructed her former maid, Ms Elizabeth Mharire (48) to accompany her to see a traditional healer, Gogo Christine Matashu, also known as Manjenjenje, in Glen View, Harare.
The maid agreed, and they travelled to Gogo Matashu’s residence in Glen Norah before heading to Churu Farm in Glen View, where Mhandu intended to cast a spell on the complainant.
Upon arriving at a secluded area of the farm, Gogo Matashu allegedly began instructing Mhandu on how to perform the spell.
Mhandu purportedly took out a red cloth and wrote several names, including Mwarianesu, Amanda, Ishmael and Tariro Maumbe.
After writing the names, she handed the cloth to Gogo Matashu, who tied snuff onto it.
Gogo Matashu then allegedly instructed Mhandu to dig a hole and bury the cloth along with a knife, known in Shona as bakatwa, while uttering her wishes.
Mhandu allegedly complied and after casting the spell, they returned home.
On July 5, Ms Mharire returned home from town to find snuff scattered all over her bedroom and belongings.
When she confronted Mhandu, she allegedly claimed she had dropped her snuff in the bedroom by mistake.
Ms Mharire later discovered snuff on the toilet seat and questioned Mhandu about it, to which she reportedly responded that it was the maid’s ancestral spirit responsible for the occurrences.
Feeling uneasy, Ms Mharire informed Mhandu that she could no longer work for her. In response, Mhandu allegedly took Ms Mharire’s phone and deleted all her pictures, stating she didn’t want them posted on social media.
On July 9, Ms Mharire told the complainant that Mhandu had cast a bad spell on her and requested to be taken to the site where the rituals were conducted.
Peter Tanyanyiwa