Unpaid employee takes tortoise to work threatening to bewitch manager
The tortoise was covered in red floor polish and a red piece of cloth with needles was tied around it
By Staff Reporter
In a bizarre incident, a 58-year-old woman took a live tortoise to work and threatened to use it to bewitch the manager over unpaid wages.
Sithembiso Budzirikawa appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with contravening the Wildlife Act.
It is an offence under Zimbabwean laws to move with a tortoise without a permit.
The court was told that on 21 August 2024, Budzirikawa took a live tortoise from Chabwino farm in Goromonzi to her workplace where she demanded her unpaid wages.
“Upon realising that she was not getting the money, the accused person threatened the Human Resources Manager with the tortoise,” said the National Prosecuting Authority in a Thursday statement.
“She said that she was going to use the tortoise to get her money. The tortoise was covered in red polish and a red piece of cloth with needles tied around it.
“A police report was made and the accused person failed to produce a permit granting her the authority to move the tortoise as she had done leading to her arrest.”
For the offence, Budzirikawa was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of US$300 or 3 months imprisonment.
