By Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
MUZARABANI – Panic has gripped Muzarabani District after alleged incidents of Satanism and mysterious spirit possession rocked two secondary schools, leaving more than 20 learners as victims and bringing routine lessons to a standstill.
Learners at Chidikamwedzi and Chawarura Secondary Schools in Mashonaland Central Province are alleged to have been possessed by weird spirits, with some collapsing, screaming, speaking in strange voices and behaving uncontrollably during school hours.
Parents, teachers and community members say the situation has become unbearable, with some learners now afraid to attend school while others are demanding urgent spiritual and medical intervention.
A local politician who visited the affected schools confirmed the incidents, describing the situation as a crisis that needs immediate national attention.
“What is happening at Chidikamwedzi and Chawarura is real and it is disturbing. More than 20 children have fallen victim. Lessons are being disrupted almost every day. We cannot pretend this is normal. Our children need help, and our schools need protection,” said the politician.
Community leaders in Muzarabani also confirmed the incidents, saying traditional structures have already been engaged to try and calm the situation.
“We have seen it with our own eyes. Our children are suffering. As custodians of the community, we have tried to intervene through our traditional ways, but this needs everyone including the Ministry (Primary and Secondary), churches, traditional leaders and parents to come together. We cannot leave our children to suffer alone,” said one community leader.
“The spirits are attacking our children in class. Some fall down, some cry, some speak things they do not know. We are appealing for help before the situation gets worse,” said another community leader.
Responding to questions sent during investigations by this Bulawayo 24news, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education confirmed receiving reports of the unfortunate incidences and has promised measures to address the disturbances.
Primary and Secondary Ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro said the Ministry takes the reports seriously, with the safety, welfare and psychological well-being of learners and teachers as its primary concern.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education takes reports of disturbances affecting teaching and learning at Chidikamwedzi and Chawarura Secondary Schools seriously. Our primary concern is always the safety, welfare and psychological well-being of learners and teachers, as well as the uninterrupted delivery of education,” Ndoro said.
Ndoro said the Department of Learner Welfare, Special Needs and Psychological Services is always at hand to provide professional guidance, counselling and psychosocial support whenever learners experience distress.
“While we acknowledge reports of alleged spiritual manifestations, it is important that such occurrences are approached with sensitivity, responsibility and without prematurely drawing conclusions about their causes,” he said.
Ndoro added that the Ministry cannot address such incidents alone and has engaged parents, local communities, traditional leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
“The Ministry recognises that incidents of this nature cannot be addressed by the education sector acting alone. We have always engaged parents, local communities, traditional leaders and other relevant stakeholders to assist in managing such occurrences,” Ndoro said.
“Traditional leaders, in particular, play an important role in mobilising communities and facilitating culturally appropriate interventions. Where necessary, health professionals and other specialists are also engaged to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of affected learners,” he added.
On preventing recurrence, Ndoro said the Ministry’s mandate is to provide quality, inclusive and wholesome education, but it cannot be expected to prevent every occurrence whose origins fall outside its jurisdiction.
“We are an education Ministry, and while we have mechanisms to manage disruptions to learning, it would be unrealistic to expect the Ministry alone to prevent the recurrence of incidents whose origins and causes may fall outside our professional and institutional jurisdiction,” he said.
“We also need help. This is precisely why we continuously engage communities, traditional leaders, parents, religious organisations and other relevant institutions. These are collective challenges requiring collective solutions,” Ndoro added.
Ndoro said the Ministry’s responsibility is to ensure affected learners receive appropriate support, that their dignity is protected and that teaching and learning continue in a safe environment.
“Ultimately, schools are part of the communities they serve. Addressing challenges of this nature therefore requires shared responsibility rather than placing the entire burden on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” he said.
Meanwhile, parents in Muzarabani are calling for urgent intervention, saying their children’s education and lives are at stake.
As the investigations and interventions continue, the two schools remain tense, with the community waiting to see if the alleged Satanism scourge will finally be brought under control.