'Headmaster turns into cat'

Teachers at Nyongolo Primary School outside Victoria Falls last week fled the institution which they say is haunted by the Headmaster whom they say is involved in witchcraft.

The school, located in Lubagwe resettlement area 60 kilometres outside the resort town has since shut down after teachers failed to report for duty.

Villagers in the area said the matter came to a head when the headmaster was confronted by a female teacher over the witchcraft allegations resulting in the two exchanging blows.

Fellow teachers the reportedly ganged on the headmaster forcing him to seek refuge in his office.

They reportedly pursued the headmaster to his office only to stumble on a black cat on his chair.

Villagers said the terrified teachers bolted out of the headmaster's office before reporting the matter at Lubagwe Police Base.

"Suspicion is that the headmaster was involved in witchcraft but no one had enough courage to confront him despite popular sentiment that he must go," said a villager.

The headmaster, villagers said, was however found in his office when the police reported to the school but failed to handcuff him as the handcuffs fell off.

"When the police made their second visit to arrest two teachers, chaos erupted with the rest of the teachers declaring that they were abandoning the school until the headmaster is transferred," said a villager.