Teachers are sad victims of witchcraft, live at the mercy of goblins

Teachers are not only victims of economic woes bedevilling the country but they are also sad victims of spiralling witchcraft and goblins that storm our communities from the world of darkness to unleash spine chilling fears and a reign of terror.

From a literature point of view, goblins are mischievous, ugly, ferocious, dwarf-like creatures of folklore. These grotesque demons of darkness are revealed as having varying attributes, shapes, colours, origins and sizes. They also have different versatilities, temperaments and speed. However, the fact is that these night creatures induce blood cuddling terror to human beings.

Goblin stories are rapidly proliferating like veld fires in schools in Matabeleland North Province. Scores of terror-stricken teachers fled after the dreaded night monsters descended on their schools.

Dangababi Primary school in Dete closed, Mavikaneni Primary school in Bubi, Shabula Primary, Khutshwa and St George Primary school have been victims of the unseen night objects. Similar cases of goblins have been reported in Nkayi, Binga and Umguza districts.

The stories of goblins in Lupane schools are fresh in our minds. In 2012 Tshebetshebe Primary school in Lupane district was closed as teachers deserted the school in fear of the night rummaging and terrorising mysterious monsters. The school which had an enrolment of over 200 pupils with seven teachers including the head receded into chaos as teachers fled from these goblins.

Female teachers were the most affected as they were sexually abused by the goblins.

It was reported that in their night escapades the goblins would strip female teachers naked, swop their undergarments or leave them hanging on windows or on trees nearby. Male teachers were not spared as well.

Early in 2014 another school hit the headlines for similar reasons. Villagers in Dongamuzi area under Chief Gumede were demanding immediate transfer of a headmaster at a local school whom they accused of owning goblins terrorising pupils and teachers.

Like in Tshebetshebe school, the goblins would descend on female teachers and sexually abuse them before leaving their panties in the middle of the night.

The headmaster was ousted after a cleansing ceremony conducted by the International Healers' Association which fingered him as the owner of the goblins. Traditional healers and villagers all fingered the headmaster during a cleansing ceremony dubbed "Wafawafa".

Teachers and heads of schools are not only vulnerable to the ferocious creatures but to the wrath of the community villagers who are quick to place the goblins at the teachers' doorsteps.

In most cases villagers accuse the teachers of owning the goblins even if no cleansing ritual would have been conducted.

What is worrying is the rooted audacity and propensity with which society places the goblin blame upon teachers and school headmasters.

The fleeing terrified and sexually abused teachers were not vindicated by their communities of work. They ran helter-skelter while their boss, the head was first subjected to a "Wafawafa" ritual before being sent packing.

Matabeleland North Provincial Education director Boithatelo Mnguni observed that an increase in the cases of goblins in her province was a cause of concern since it was disturbing children's learning.

However, she said they were urging teachers not to be involved and let the communities solve such issues.