Mass hysteria strikes Masvingo school

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By GETRUDE GUMEDE

Published: November 25, 2009

ZIMBABWE – NASVINGO – A suspected case of mass hysteria has struck Nemanwa Primary School in Charumbira communal lands in Masvingo, where pupils are reportedly screaming wildly and complaining of visions of strange snakelike creatures and lions.

Parents have called for the temporary closure of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run institution, and some of them have withdrawn their children.

Teachers said on average, six pupils were affected every day.

Sources last week said some of the pupils would collapse, scream, or tell of visions of snakes, lions, hyenas and crocodiles.

Others, the sources said, would behave as if they were in a trance.

The development forced RCZ authorities last week to dispatch pastors to conduct prayer sessions at the school.

RCZ moderator Reverend Enos Chomutiri confirmed the wave of hysteria at Nemanwa and blamed this on “evil spirits and demons”.

Rev Chomutiri said the group of pastors they had sent to the school had done their work and the situation had reverted to normal.

“We strongly believe that the hysteria is caused by evil spirits and as Christians it is also our belief that through prayer such things can end.

“Hence we dispatched some pastors from Mogenster Mission to visit the school to conduct prayers and the situation has improved,” he said.

He added that investigations were still ongoing to establish the cause of the mass hysteria.

A similar occurrence hit the school about two years ago when some pupils reportedly began screaming wildly and claiming they saw frightening visions.

There is widespread belief within the Nemanwa community that the hysteria is due to goblins that haunt the school.

Fiftysix students were recently withdrawn from boarding facilities at Eaglesvale High School in Harare amid reports of mass hysteria blamed on a “cult”.

Two female students were expelled from the hostels for allegedly leading unsanctioned religious meetings on school premises and causing hysteria among fellow students.

It is alleged that the girls mobilised others in the hostels to join them and their “followers” were now speaking in tongues, fighting and damaging walls and windows.’

As a result 56 parents withdrew their children from the school to keep them away from the two girls.

Parents of the two expelled “ringleaders” filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking their children’s immediate reinstatement.

The application is yet to be set down for hearing before Justice Susan Mavangira.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph