'Goblins' terrorise pupils, chief seek govt help

Chief Malachi Masuku from Matobo District has appealed for Government intervention in schools in his area following reports that pupils were being terrorised by goblins.

Chief Masuku said four schools were affected.

"I am making this appeal to the Government because the situation keeps worsening.

"Lessons are being disrupted in four schools within my area as it has become impossible for pupils to learn as they are being terrorised by goblins.

"I visited one of the affected schools, Tokwe Secondary last week and the headmaster told me that there is a lot of panic within the school.

"Children are constantly being attacked by goblins during lessons and some faint during lessons," he said.

"Tokwe Secondary has 10 classes but only once class is affected. This has caused a huge scare throughout the school and now parents are reluctant to send their children to the school.

"The headmaster said they engaged parents of the  affected children who said their children only developed the problem once they got the school.

"This problem started in August and of late it has worsened," said Chief Masuku.

He said teachers from the affected schools were complaining and had threatened to abandon their duties.

Chief Masuku attributed the bizarre incidents to the evil practices by some members of the community.

"Some villagers who live close to Tokwe Secondary have revealed that they hear strange noises coming from the school at night.

"On some occasions villagers that have passed by the school during odd hours have reported to have spotted strange objects at the school.

"This is a sign that people are still practising witchcraft. They are raising evil spirits for purposes only known by them.

"We are hoping that the Government will engage the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) to drive away these evils spirits which are tormenting our children," he said.

Chief Masuku said besides Tokwe, other affected schools were Lushumbe Primary in Silozwi, Mazhayimbe Primary and Bhazha Secondary in Nqindi area.

A headmaster from one of the schools who preferred anonymity said they have reported the matter to the  Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which advised them to consult the traditional leadership.

"The whole school is being affected. We cannot continue operating under such an environment.

"When the attacks start pupils run amok, they start screaming and panicking and eventually the whole school runs amok.

"When this problem started we were experiencing it occasionally but of late it is happening on a daily basis.

"We consulted the traditional leadership as we were advised and we hope this problem we are facing will be addressed soon," said the headmaster.