A 58-year-old Zimbabwean woman, Sithembiso Budzirikawa, has been arrested for allegedly using black magic to threaten her Human Resources (HR) manager in a bid to recover her unpaid salary.
The incident occurred on August 21, 2024, in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, where Budzirikawa resorted to drastic measures after her repeated requests for payment were ignored.
According to reports, Budzirikawa visited Chabwino Farm before heading to her workplace to acquire a live tortoise, which she intended to use as part of her threat.
Upon arriving at the company, she confronted the HR manager and once again demanded her overdue salary. When the manager refused to comply, Budzirikawa escalated the situation by producing the tortoise, which was covered in red floor polish, wrapped in a red cloth, and had needles tied around it.
She then threatened the manager with black magic if her demands were not met, using the tortoise as a symbol of her intentions.
Alarmed by the unusual and intimidating threat, the HR manager immediately reported the incident to the police.
When officers arrived, they asked Budzirikawa for a permit to possess the tortoise, which she could not provide. She was subsequently arrested under the Parks and Wildlife Act for the unlawful possession of a live tortoise.
Budzirikawa was later brought before the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where she was found guilty of the charges against her. The court sentenced her to pay a fine of US$300. Failure to pay the fine will result in a 30-day prison sentence.
