Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
POPULAR socialite and video vixen, Natalie ‘Enchantress’ Mhandu is set to appear in court after two women, believed to be her erstwhile friends, filed a criminal complaint against her yesterday accusing her of witchcraft.
Police sources confirmed the developments last night amid reports she had been invited to Glen View Police Station over the issue.
There had been claims that she had been detained and would spend the night at the police post, but it was later established that she was released into the hands of her lawyer’s as she is of fixed abode.
Also, it was considered that the charge that she faces is not considered a serious offence and, if the matter proceeds to court this morning, the parties will be coming from their homes.
There were also suggestions that the matter might change direction as the warring parties’ fallout involves a boyfriend.
Police Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza said they were still investigating the case.
“Police are investigating a case indicating witchcraft and wizard allegations involving friends. Further details will be released in due course,” said Insp Chakanza.
The complaint was filed under Section 98 of the criminal code (indicating witches and wizards).
It states that:
“Any person, who engages in any practice knowing that it is commonly associated with witchcraft shall be guilty of engaging in a practice commonly associated with witchcraft if, having intended thereby to cause harm to any person, such practice inspires in the person against whom it was directed a real fear or belief that harm will occur to that person or any member of his or her family, and be liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.
“Spoken or written words shall not in themselves constitute a practice commonly associated with witchcraft for the purpose of this section, unless accompanied by or used in connection with other conduct commonly associated with witchcraft.
“For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that any person who assists another person to commit the crime of engaging in a practice commonly associated with witchcraft by giving advice or providing any substance or article to enable that person to commit the crime shall be liable to be charged as an accomplice to the crime.
“A court shall not take judicial notice of any practice that is said to be commonly associated with witchcraft, but any person who, in the opinion of the court, is suitably qualified to do so on account of his or her knowledge, shall be competent to give expert evidence as to whether the practice that forms the subject of a charge under this section is a practice that is commonly associated with witchcraft, whether generally or in the particular area where the practice is alleged to have taken place.”
According to reports, the matter arose after Natalie, who’s known as Enchantress or Madame Stylist, fired her domestic worker.
Aggrieved, the maid allegedly contacted Natalie’s two former friends and told them about the rituals she had allegedly performed with a sangoma from Mozambique to try and fix them after one of them snatched her boyfriend.
The former domestic worker allegedly took them to a place at Pension Farm in Glen View where they allegedly performed the ritual and dug up a red cloth and a knife which had their names written on them.
A heated phone call, supposedly between the two women and Natalie leaked yesterday, and the accused denied the allegations. The person believed to be Natalie said her former domestic worker was just trying to fix her by telling lies.
