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Topora — Parents, guardians, and local community leadership last week forced the temporary closure of Rukovo Secondary School after the death of a Form Two pupil and two additional students collapsing within the same week, sparking fears of witchcraft and satanic influences at the school.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director, Shylet Mhike said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dispatched officials to the school to investigate the matter and determine the next steps.
“We are yet to get the full details from the officials who are currently on the ground to investigate. I am sure they will have meetings with the community as well as the school authorities and get to the bottom of the matter. Once that is done I will receive the report and I will also forward it to my superiors,” Mhike said.
According to sources in the area, the troubling sequence began on Tuesday last week when a Form Two pupil collapsed on the school premises and was pronounced dead while being transported to a local clinic.
Within the same week, two more pupils collapsed on school grounds but were reportedly resuscitated after teachers and students performed first aid and prayed.
In the wake of these incidents, parents and guardians gathered at the school and demanded closure pending investigations.
One anonymous villager told Center News, “We strongly suspect acts of witchcraft at the school, and it was prudent for the school to be closed and let spiritual healers conduct cleansing ceremonies and find the culprit.”
Efforts to obtain a comment from Chief Chikwanda, who is associated with the school’s oversight, were unsuccessful as his mobile phone could not be reached at the time of reporting.
A local pastor, Apostle Lovemore Chevure of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance International Church, offered a contrasting view.
, “There is definitely a spirit of satanism at the school involving teachers. We are dealing with a spirit, and for now the school needs cleansing and prayer to get rid of the satanism spirit that has gripped the school, and not to embarrass the teachers who are involved.” he said
The Education Ministry says it will review the findings from its on-site investigation and decide on further actions once the inquiry is complete although officials said learning was allowed to resume.
