Woman takes tortoise to work, threatens to harm HR manager with black magic for withholding her salary
AN elderly woman has been arrested for unlawful possession of a live tortoise, which she took to her company’s human resources manager, threatening to harm her using black magic if she continued withholding her salary.
The accused, Sithembiso Budzirikawa (58) appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
The State case was that on August 21, 2024, the accused person proceeded to Chabwino farm in Goromonzi where she took a live tortoise and carried it to her workplace.
On arrival, Budzirikawa started demanding her unpaid wages from the human resources manager, who did not budge citing undisclosed reasons.
The court further heard that when she realised her plot was failing to yield the desired results, the accused person produced the tortoise which was covered in red floor polish and a piece of red cloth with needles tied around it.
The matter was reported to police who demanded a permit allowing Budzirikawa to move the animal as she had done but she failed to produce one, leading to her arrest.
The accused person was found guilty and sentenced to a US$300 fine or 30 days imprisonment if she failed to pay the fine.
