'Goblin' found in classroom with blood sprinkled on walls

Satanists and witches at school? Teachers and pupils at Deli primary school in Nyamamdlovu, Matabeleland North are living in fear following a peculiar incident; where they found the school gate and a Grade One classroom sprinkled with blood and a pigeon in a gourd (isidleke) wrapped with red cloth.

The villagers are still in shock as they attribute the incident to witchcraft and satanism. Following the incident, scores of pupils are reportedly failing to attend lessons and some teachers have threatened to transfer from school out of fear.

When we visited the area, sources said the school staff and villagers were living in fear, because blood is a symbol of death and the pigeon in a gourd (isidleke) might be a goblin on a mission. It is reported that Monday was like any normal school day until blood stains were found from the gate leading to the classrooms.

They never took the matter seriously until the head boy and his deputy discovered that there was a classroom with blood on the chalk board, charts and walls. Still in shock, the two pupils discovered that there was a hair raising gourd and creature in the back corner of the classroom. The head boy realising that it was something scary and suspecting that it was a snake in the gourd, he immediately told the headmistress who in the company of other teachers attended to the scene.

"We could not come to terms with what we were seeing and it was frightening to see blood all over the classroom worse with red cloths. There was a tense atmosphere at school, we then sent the children back home and called a meeting with parents to find the way forward," said the headmistress Miriam Zidla, who was still visibly shocked.

She revealed that during the meeting they agreed with the parents to report the matter to police.

"Police attended to the scene and they cleaned the blood from walls and took the gourd to the station. At the station, two pastors were given green light by Chief Deli to destroy the gourd and free the bird, after holding a cleansing ceremony through prayer."

Pastor Japan Muleya and Pastor Denver Moyo proclaimed that the devil had no power and they destroyed the gourd and let the innocent bird free.

"A pigeon represents peace but the red cloth and blood shows that a sacrifice was done and we destroyed all that in the name of the father," said one pastor during the cleansing process.

Speaking at his homestead, Chief Deli said he suspected that tsikamutandas (witch hunters) were behind the incident in a bid to get attention.

"Last week some tsikamutandas approached me saying they wanted to work in our area for some time, therefore I suspect this is one of their antics to get attention from villagers who would now suspect witchcraft. A manhunt should be launched and those men will tell the truth," said Chief Deli.

Officer Commanding Lupane District Chief Superintendent Yohannis Govo also warned members of the public to be caution of false prophets.