Harare – In a bizarre incident that has left the nation speechless, a 58-year-old woman has been fined for threatening her employer with a tortoise, demanding her unpaid wages. Sithembiso Budzirikawa appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges of contravening the Wildlife Act.
The unusual incident unfolded on August 21st when Budzirikawa, armed with a live tortoise, arrived at her workplace demanding her outstanding pay. The tortoise, however, wasn’t just any ordinary reptile. It was adorned in a peculiar fashion, covered in red floor polish and sporting a red cloth tied around it with needles.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Budzirikawa’s demands for her wages were met with resistance, prompting her to threaten the Human Resources Manager with the bizarre weapon. “She said that she was going to use the tortoise to get her money,” a spokesperson for the NPAZ stated.
The unusual threat prompted the Human Resources Manager to report the incident to the police. Upon investigation, it was discovered that Budzirikawa had taken the tortoise from Chabwino farm in Goromonzi without the necessary permit.
The lack of a permit, a violation of the Wildlife Act, resulted in Budzirikawa’s arrest. She was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of US$300 or serve three months in prison.
