Online Reporter
Chipo Mukorama
A WOMAN is accusing her mother-in-law of allegedly bewitching her son in a bizarre case of witchcraft, whose dispute has now spilled into court.
Hamunyari Balani claims her mother-in-law, Lovemore Nyarucha, has been using witchcraft to ‘control her son’s mind’, leading to his erratic behaviour.
Balani was seeking a peace order at the Harare Civil Court, which was granted by Magistrate Meenal Naratom.
“I knew something was wrong when my son started acting strangely.
“He would become aggressive and violent and that’s when I knew it was not just an illness because Lovemore comes to my house at night sprinkling some white powder on my doorstep.
“I confronted my mother-in-law about the incident and she denied the claims.
“I got angry and ended up assaulting her.
“She had told me that she was the one behind my son’s illness,” she said.
Lovemore denied the allegations.
“I love my grandson and I would never do anything to harm him.
“My daughter-in-law’s behaviour has been erratic and violent, I fear for my life.
“It’s heartbreaking for her to be calling me a witch,” she said.
Magistrate Naratom granted Hamunyari a peace order.
The order prohibits Lovemore from contacting or approaching her daughter-in-law.
The court also ordered Hamunyari to undergo counselling to address her own mental health issues and to seek alternative care for her son.
