- The Washington Times - Friday, May 17, 2013

Witches in Swaziland — where witchcraft is serious business — aren’t cleared to fly their broomsticks higher than 150 meters and violators may be arrested and fined.

The clarification comes from Civil Aviation Authority marketing and corporate affairs director Sabelo Dlamini, reports the Sun, a U.K. tabloid. Witches are still free to fly lower than 150 meters, or about 500 feet, he said.

Toy helicopters and kites are also subject to the airspace limits in the southern Africa country.



The statute came to light when Mr. Dlamini was asked to explain the arrest of a private detective for flying a toy helicopter with a video camera to gather surveillance. He was charged with operating an unregistered aircraft, according to a local news website.

Witches in the country are known to use their brooms to scatter drops of potion — but there have not been any reported instances of witches flying them, the site reported.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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