News / National
Minor used in witchcraft
11 Mar 2018 at 19:44hrs | Views
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl, who allegedly cut a toddler's hair for witchcraft purposes, has been acquitted.
Mbare magistrate Stanford Mambanje found the minor not guilty citing that the she might have been under a spell as she had stated in her defence.
The State, represented by Lawrence Gangarava, heard that on August 20 last year, the minor went to Constance Charehwa's place of residence and found the maid alone at the house.
She then took advantage of the complainant's absence and pretended to be her niece.
The accused person then cut off the toddler's hair and went with it.When the complainant came back home she discovered that her baby's hair was cut and the maid suspected the accused person.
In her defence, the minor said she had a dream of her friends sending her to cut the toddler's hair.
"I had a dream of my friends instructing me to cut off the baby's hair and I told them that I had no money to go there.
"They told me that they were going to give me the money .The following morning I found $5 under my pillow which I did not know where it came from.
"I later realised my mistake and I refused to give them the hair after they failed to explain to me why they wanted the hair.
"I then went to the complainant to ask for forgiveness," she said.
A member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) Prince Mutanda witnessed that it is possible that the minor was used in witchcraft considering that she was sent through a dream unwillingly.
Mbare magistrate Stanford Mambanje found the minor not guilty citing that the she might have been under a spell as she had stated in her defence.
The State, represented by Lawrence Gangarava, heard that on August 20 last year, the minor went to Constance Charehwa's place of residence and found the maid alone at the house.
She then took advantage of the complainant's absence and pretended to be her niece.
The accused person then cut off the toddler's hair and went with it.When the complainant came back home she discovered that her baby's hair was cut and the maid suspected the accused person.
In her defence, the minor said she had a dream of her friends sending her to cut the toddler's hair.
"I had a dream of my friends instructing me to cut off the baby's hair and I told them that I had no money to go there.
"They told me that they were going to give me the money .The following morning I found $5 under my pillow which I did not know where it came from.
"I later realised my mistake and I refused to give them the hair after they failed to explain to me why they wanted the hair.
"I then went to the complainant to ask for forgiveness," she said.
A member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) Prince Mutanda witnessed that it is possible that the minor was used in witchcraft considering that she was sent through a dream unwillingly.
Source - hmetro
