A primary school in Lupane District, Matabeleland North was forced to suspend lessons after parents withdrew their children after some of the pupils were allegedly beaten by suspected goblins.
Lupane District Schools Inspector, Lovemore Ncube, confirmed that lessons were suspended on February 10 and only resumed last Friday, with few children turning up at Mhlanga Mlambo Primary School. He said:
The school was closed on February 10 when parents decided to protect their children from being attacked by goblins. However, on Friday we had about 90 children attending lessons. The school has an enrolment of over 180 so I am expecting a report from the school head on the progress.
Parents and the traditional leadership engaged the services of a traditional healer who cleansed the school and the surrounding areas, so that is why lessons have resumed.
A teacher who preferred anonymity told the Chronicle that a Grade 3 pupil informed teachers that pupils were being beaten by “unseen things” at the playgrounds and several were found wriggling on the ground and frothing at the mouth.
A cleansing ceremony was subsequently held at the school, with parents contributing $10 per household towards paying the traditional healer.