A 42-year-old woman from Kuwadzana strippǝd nɑkǝd and climbed onto the roof of a house in Budiriro in a suspected case of ‘juju’ or black magic.
The incident happened on Sunday evening and attracted a crowd at the residence. Some onlookers suspected the woman, identified as Maria Chimuranzi, was a witch.
Several men tried but failed to get Maria to come down from the roof. She threatened to throw herself down until police arrived and managed to rescue her.
Maria was taken to Budiriro Police Station where she recounted her ordeal. She was then taken back to her home in Kuwadzana.
Maria’s cousin, Nomatter Chimuranzi, said an evil spirit may have taken hold of Maria. She said Maria had been staying in South Africa with her husband but came back on Friday.
On Sunday morning, Maria’s mother had taken her to visit relatives in Stoneridge. Maria then returned home briefly before going to a church in Machipisa. Her family became worried when she failed to return and planned to report her missing to police.
Residents of Budiriro stoned the house Maria had climbed onto and the vehicle of the owner, Thomas Mupfawa, demanding to know why she had targeted his property. Mupfawa said he was at a funeral when he received a call about the nɑkǝd woman on his roof. He claimed he did not know Maria and was shocked by the incident.
