The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A CHIPINGE teacher, who was embroiled in a satanism storm after being labeled the leader of a cult behind weird happenings at Chimana Secondary School, is suing the School Development Committee (SDC) and village heads for $5 million for defamation.
The teacher, Mercy Mutando approached the Chipinge Civil Court on Tuesday accusing the Chimana SDC led by Tafara Sithole, and village head, Walter Mushavanhu, and other 12 members of the community for labelling her as the ring leader of a satanism cult at the school.
The incident happened in April this year.
Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi presided over the case, while MrTariro Tazvitya, of Bere Brothers Legal Practitioners represented the defendants.
Mutando had to be transferred to Musani Secondary School after the Chimana SDC and the community rejected her, labeling her a satanist. The school was temporary closed after pupils and teachers claimed that they were seeing snakes in the classrooms.
Some pupils would collapse, while some fell into trances.
The bizarre incident saw three school inspectors visiting the school and recommended its closure.
The village head and the community staged a demonstration at the school resulting in Mutando being transferred from the school.
The matter was brought to Chief Mapungwana’s attention who recommended a cleansing ceremony at the school.
In her submissions to the court, Mutando claims that she lost her dignity in the community as everyone accused her of initiating pupils at the school into satanism.
She said her name was tarnished all over the world because of the allegations raised by the defendants.
“My name was tarnished and was all over the social media because of the unfounded allegations raised by the defendants. They gave false information to the District Schools Inspector, police and Chief Mapungwana that I was responsible for the mysterious happenings that were reported at the school.
“I was disturbed by these allegations, and my employer had to transfer me to another school since my life was in danger at the school,” she said.
The defendant’s attorney’s MrTazyitya told the court that his clients were innocent as they never labelled the plaintiff a satanist.
The matter was still being heard at the time of going to print.
