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Scores of irate parents last Tuesday besieged Masasi High School in Marange baying for the blood of school authorities whom they accuse of initiating their children into Satanism.
One of the students at the boarding institution, Vanessa Mangatu (18), dropped out of school in March last year after she became crippled. Vanessa was supposed to have written her Ordinary Level examinations last year.
Her mother, Ms Munorwireyi Mangatu, says Vanessa has tattoos of snakes and razor blades that appear and disappear.
Ms Mangatu says before her daughter became ill, she claimed that she was seeing two teachers as they were coming to her while dressed in black gowns.
The teachers would allegedly coerce Vanessa to go with them and she would unwillingly comply. Vanessa’s case has resulted in a good number of students refusing to go to the school as they fear for their own spiritual and physical health.
Incensed parents are now calling for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to transfer the two teachers who are accused of being behind the strange occurrences.
In an interview, Vanessa’s mother said her daughter cannot walk, speak or sit.
“While I was in South Africa, Vanessa would call me every night and tell me that she was seeing her two teachers as they were coming to her while dressed in black gowns.
“She said they would coerce her to go with them and that she would unwillingly comply. When I was told that my child had become crippled and had been sent back home from the boarding school, I immediately rushed back home and my daughter’s situation was painful,” she said.
Ms Mungatu said she has since dumped her daughter at the school, adding that the teachers need to restore her health.
“She has tattoos that appear and disappear all over her body and these are tattoos of snakes, razor blades and Chinese symbols.
“I sold my house in Mutare so that we could seek medical help for her but the specialist doctors told us that nothing is wrong with my child medically. I have been to different traditional healers and they told me that the teachers are behind this, which is why we are here today. The teachers should either cure my child or be sent packing,” said Mrs Mungatu.
The girl’s grandmother, Mrs Agnes Mangatu said when Vanessa was brought back home from school, she could still talk. She, however, said the teenager’s situation has deteriorated as she can no longer speak, eat or sit.
“When she could still talk, she told me that she had seen two of her teachers dressed in black gowns climbing down a tree. She told me that she was not dreaming when she saw those women. She says she screamed and her friends heard her. The following day, she fell down and immediately became crippled,” said the girl’s grandmother.
The Mangatu family said they are also taking up the matter with the local traditional leadership. Another parent, only identified as Ms Manyasha, said her child has also dropped out of school due to the strange occurrences.
“My child was in the same class with Vanessa and she also saw the two teachers in black robes. Since Vanessa’s predicament, my daughter has refused to go back to the school. She fears that she will also be affected by whatever that affected Vanessa. I am currently looking for another school for her,” said Mrs Manyasha.
Most parents said they are afraid to keep their children at the boarding school.
“We are now afraid of keeping our children at this school. The teachers should be transferred or the school should be closed. We will not tolerate this. Our children have scars and tattoos of snakes all over their bodies and these appear and disappear mysteriously. This is pure Satanism and it should be stopped,” said Mrs Edith Basopo.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba said the incident requires a community approach for it to be solved.
“From what I have heard, this could be a case of hysteria which needs to be solved by the community. This is a school that is affected and the school is in the community. There should be a community approach for this problem to be solved because if it is not solved that way, the problem will persist.
“As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, what we need is a healthy child with a healthy mind in the classroom so that they are able to benefit. These social problems should be solved by the community,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (Zinatha) president, Mr George Kandiero believes what is affecting the students is spiritual.
“This is a clear case of something spiritual. In the Christian realm, they call it Satanism, but from a traditional perspective, these are spiritual attacks. This particular girl is being used by cults for monetary or sexual gains.
“Those affected are a vulnerable group as learners. They are being specifically targeted because they are easy to manipulate. Their innocence makes them easy prey. These mysterious occurrences could be used as a way of dispossessing them of their natural gifts,” he said.
Mr Kandiero said urgent intervention is required.
“There is need for exorcism among the affected learners. An expert in these matters can be engaged in order to interpret what is happening with the students.”
Most doctors practicing medicine do not accept hysteria as a medical diagnosis. The blanket diagnosis of hysteria has been fragmented into myriad medical categories such as epilepsy, histrionic personality disorder, conversion disorders, dissociative disorders, or other medical conditions.
Local medical practitioner, Dr Tendai Zuze said Vanessa’s diagnosis points to visual hallucinations which can have many possible medical causes — from psychosis, migraines or seizures. He, however, said the causes all depends on how long she has been getting these hallucinations and if she has any other symptoms apart from the ones mentioned. Manicapost
