Popular socialite and video vixen Natalie Mhandu, widely known as “Enchantress”, is facing possible court proceedings after two women, reportedly her former friends, lodged a criminal complaint accusing her of practising witchcraft.
According to police sources, Mhandu was summoned to Glen View Police Station on the matter. While initial reports suggested that she had been detained overnight, it was later clarified that she was released into the custody of her lawyers, given her fixed residence.
Authorities also took into account that the charge she is facing is not considered a serious offence. If the matter is brought before the court today, it is expected that all involved parties will attend from their homes.
Insiders suggested that the dispute may be rooted in a love triangle involving a shared boyfriend, which has escalated tensions between the women.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“Police are probing a case involving allegations of witchcraft between individuals who were formerly friends. More details will be provided as the investigation progresses,” said Inspector Chakanza.
The charge has been laid under Section 98 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which deals with alleged witchcraft-related practices.
The section defines the offence as engaging in any act commonly linked with witchcraft, particularly when it is done with the intent to cause harm or instill genuine fear in another person. If found guilty, a person could face a fine up to level ten, a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.
It also clarifies that mere words—spoken or written—do not constitute witchcraft unless combined with conduct typically associated with such practices. Furthermore, individuals who assist others in committing such acts by offering guidance or providing items to facilitate the alleged act can be charged as accomplices.
Only qualified individuals with relevant cultural or expert knowledge are permitted to give evidence on whether an alleged practice is indeed commonly associated with witchcraft.
Sources claim the issue began when Mhandu dismissed her domestic worker. The aggrieved employee reportedly contacted two of Mhandu’s ex-friends and alleged that she had performed rituals with a Mozambican traditional healer in retaliation particularly after one of the women allegedly took her boyfriend.
The former maid is said to have led the two women to Pension Farm in Glen View, where they unearthed a red cloth and a knife said to have their names on them.
An audio recording, allegedly capturing a phone conversation between Mhandu and the two complainants, surfaced yesterday. In the recording, the woman believed to be Mhandu strongly denied the accusations, stating that the former domestic worker was fabricating the story to tarnish her image.
