The Second Grade Magistrate’s Court in Nkhotakota has ordered a 40-year-old man, Tobias Mkandawire, to pay a fine of K450,000 for pretending to possess witchcraft powers and threatening a young woman who rejected his romantic advances.
According to state witness Jonathan Mzunga, the incident occurred on January 31 this year in Ngalauka Village under Traditional Authority Nkhanga. Mkandawire allegedly threatened to send lightning to the home of the girl’s father, Maxwell Usen, claiming it would strike and take the girl.
Mzunga told the court that Mkandawire warned he would either kill the girl using lightning or make her disappear within three days if she continued to refuse his proposal.
The court found Mkandawire guilty of falsely claiming to practice witchcraft and issuing threats.
He has been ordered to pay K450,000 within the stipulated period or face a four-year jail sentence.
