Harare – Socialite and video vixen Natalie “Enchantress” Mhandu, a prominent figure in Zimbabwe’s social media scene, finds herself embroiled in a bizarre witchcraft scandal that has taken a new twist. Accused of engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft, Mhandu was yesterday removed from further remand after her trial failed to commence as planned, leaving her fate hanging in the balance.
Presiding magistrate Sikhethile Moyo, visibly displeased with the State’s lack of preparedness, ordered that Mhandu be summoned back to court once investigations are complete. The prosecution cited the need to obtain a statement from the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) and a video from cyber experts as the reasons for the delay.
The allegations against Mhandu, who is also known as Madame Stylist, first surfaced last week when two women, believed to be her former friends, filed a criminal complaint accusing her of witchcraft. Police sources confirmed that Mhandu was invited to Glen View Police Station in connection with the matter. While initial reports suggested she would be detained overnight, she was later released into the custody of her lawyer, given her fixed abode and the nature of the charges against her.
Police Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that they were 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, which addresses allegations of witchcraft and wizardry. The law stipulates that anyone engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft, intending to cause harm and inspiring fear in the targeted individual, is liable to a fine not exceeding level ten, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
The law also clarifies that spoken or written words alone do not constitute witchcraft unless accompanied by other conduct commonly associated with it. Furthermore, it states that the court cannot take judicial notice of any practice said to be commonly associated with witchcraft, but can rely on expert evidence from qualified individuals to determine whether the practice in question is indeed associated with witchcraft.
According to court papers, the saga began after Mhandu allegedly enlisted the help of her former maid, Elizabeth Mharire, 48, to cast a spell on a complainant. Mhandu allegedly asked Mharire to accompany her to see her traditional healer, Christine Matashu, also known as Manjenjenje, in Glen View.
Mharire agreed, and the two proceeded to Matashu’s residence in Glen Norah, where they picked her up before heading to Churu Farm in Glen View. It is alleged that Mhandu intended to cast a spell on the complainant at this location, following instructions from Matashu.
Upon arrival at a bushy area on the farm, Mhandu allegedly produced a red cloth and wrote several names on it, including Mwarianesu, Amanda, Ishmael, and Tariro Maumbe. She then handed the cloth to Matashu, who tied snuff onto it. Matashu instructed Mhandu to dig a hole and bury the cloth and a knife, known in Shona as “bakatwa,” while uttering her wishes. Mhandu allegedly complied with these instructions.
The situation took a bizarre turn on July 5, when Mharire returned from town to find snuff scattered throughout her bedroom and on her belongings. Confronting Mhandu, the socialite allegedly claimed that she had mistakenly dropped her snuff in the bedroom. However, Mharire remained unconvinced, especially after finding more snuff on the toilet seat in her bathroom.
When questioned about these events, Mhandu allegedly responded that it was Mharire’s ancestral spirit that was responsible. This explanation did little to appease Mharire, who subsequently informed Mhandu that she could no longer work for her. In response, Mhandu allegedly took Mharire’s phone and deleted all her pictures, stating that she did not want her to post them on social media.
On July 9, Mharire informed the complainant that Mhandu had cast a bad spell on her and requested to be taken to the location where it had been performed. The following day, Mharire packed her belongings and left Mhandu’s residence. On August 4, she accompanied the complainant to Churu Farm, where they dug up the cloth and the knife that had been buried during the alleged spell-casting ritual.
The case took a further twist when it emerged that the fallout between the warring parties may involve a boyfriend. According to reports, the matter arose after Natalie 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.
As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the intersection of traditional beliefs, social media influence, and personal relationships in modern Zimbabwe.
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