The ManicaPost
Ray Bande, Senior Reporter
ANTI-RIOT police was called at Nyanyadzi High School in Chimanimani District yesterday as enraged parents and students demanded the immediate firing of a female teacher accused of initiating students and three teachers into Satanism.
A crowd of more than 1 000 parents and students gathered at the school as early as 7am, accusing the teacher of also initiating three other teachers.
The demonstrations followed a confession by a 17-year-old Form Three pupil (name withheld) at the school, saying she was no longer interested in killing people. Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba had to rush to the school to investigate the matter.
When The Manica Post arrived at the scene irate demonstrators were singing, demanding the release of the teacher and her colleagues who were kept indoors for their own safety.
Nyanyadzi High School headmaster, Mr Chemwanyisa, refused to comment, referring questions to Mr Shumba.
“He is the one we have furnished with all the details, all the reports and everything,” he said.
“As we speak, we are actually waiting for the people he has sent on the ground from the district office.”
Mr Shumba confirmed he was travelling to the school, with the aim of ensuring that pupils went back to the class.
“Yes, I have received the reports, but I cannot really make a comprehensive comment basing on that,” he said.
“All we are concerned with is having the learning process go ahead and all the other issues are resolved outside the school system,” he said.
However, Chimanimani Ward Eight councillor, Cde Muyaphi Chinguno, in whose area the school is located, said the issue came to light after a Form Three student confessed.
“She said Satanism is rampant at the school. The child is saying 400 students were initiated into it and four teachers are also into it.
“She also confessed that two teachers from the nearby Dirikwe Primary School are also into it and also a teacher at Nyanyadzi Primary School.”
The pupil, who was at her parents’ home in a nearby villager, said she was converted into Satanism.
“Yes, I was converted into Satanism by a Form Four A student (name withheld) when she gave me a chocolate sweet. From that day, I have been part of it and my job was to accompany those who were on an assignment to kill people and we would collect blood,” she said.
Headman Witness Gudyanga, under whose area the school falls, said the accused teacher refused to attend a village court over the case last Saturday, indicating she would approach the courts over defamation.
