By Obert Siamilandu
Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. YOUNG Twalumba Mudenda walks towards the school stressed, pale and a shadow of his former self, thinking of what the day has in store for him as tormenting spirits continue to haunt him and other learners at his school.
Just recently, he collapsed while in class and went unconscious for an hour.
Twalumba has lost focus and his future as an aspiring medical doctor looks faint and dented.
His hope and aspirations seem blank as he sees nothing, but death beyond his future.
“My son is a victim of an unknown and yet to be discovered spirit,” said Twalumba’s father, Thomas Mudenda, trembling as he narrated the day when his son went quiet after collapsing.
“It came as a shocker seeing my only son lying speechless for an hour.”
Added Mudenda confidently after a night vigil held at the school: “Some spirits visited Twalumba while in class. My son won’t die, I will soldier on. Even it is fighting the evil spirits, I will lead the battlefront.”
Another parent who attended the vigil said she was clueless about the spirits at the school, but spoke with hope for a better tomorrow.
In the remote reaches of Binga district, where tradition and modernity often intertwine in a delicate balance, Sikajaya Muntanga Primary School has become the epicentre of an unsettling and mysterious crisis.
The school opened its doors in September last year.
Over the last month, a disturbing wave of spirit hauntings has swept through the school, about 500m from Binga Centre, casting a shadow of fear and confusion over learners, parents and authorities alike.
Seventeen children out of the 350 enrolled, mostly from Grades 3 to 5, have exhibited strange and alarming behaviours.
According to witnesses, the learners collapse during lessons or flee classrooms in terror, claiming to have been visited or tormented by malevolent spirits.
This phenomenon, unlike anything the community has encountered before, has left many searching for explanations and solutions.
Edson Masungo, Binga district schools inspector (DSI), confirmed the disturbing reports and expressed deep concern.
“We are worried about what is happening and we are taking it to the highest authorities for further assistance,” he said.
However, he was quick to point out the complexity of the situation.
“Because of the differences in beliefs, we cannot do church prayers or traditional rituals, but we have engaged parents to take their kids for proper assistance.”
This division in faith and culture within the community adds layers of difficulty to addressing the crisis uniformly.
What is particularly baffling and frightening is the way the haunting seems to spread like an invisible viper.
Peter Siakapya Munsaka, chairperson of the School Development Committee, described the phenomenon in chilling terms.
“If one child falls, others fall too, and when one recovers, others recover as well. This has developed into a network,” he explained.
For the parents, stakeholders and authorities of Sikajaya Muntanga Primary School, this is unprecedented.
The idea of a spiritual affliction traveling through their school like an epidemic has unsettled even the most stoic members of the community.
Chief Siansali, born Nkatazo Siatabwa, a revered figure and custodian of local traditions, shared his sorrow over the impact this crisis has had on the children’s education and wellbeing.
“Seeing our learners robbed of their precious learning time is heartbreaking,” Chief Siansali said.
Traditionally, such incidents would prompt the community to seek help from spirit mediums or traditional healers.
Yet, this time, the path is not clear.
“Because of mixtures in beliefs and faith, parents have different views,” he said, shedding light on how religious diversity and modern influences have fragmented the unified approach that once existed.
The traditional leader called upon the community to come together, urging unity to find a lasting, respectful solution to the haunting.
In a quest to confront the mysterious events, the School Development Committee, parents and local spiritual leaders organised a night vigil.
This ritual was intended to cleanse the afflicted children and restore peace to the school environment.
The vigil was a rare affair, blending traditional rites with prayers from various faiths.
During the ceremony, some children reported frightening visions of images of “people of the waters”, shadowy figures cloaked in black, and voices calling to them in the night.
These accounts have only deepened the mystery and the urgency to find answers.
The situation has not only disrupted education, but has also strained the social fabric of the community.
Teachers are anxious as they watch their pupils suffer, parents are fearful for their children’s safety and leaders grapple with how to bridge cultural divides.
But in this fear, there is hope.
“We just want our kids to be safe and get back to their normal lives.”
This simple plea echoes the collective yearning for healing and normalcy.
A traditional leader, Milonga Chooma of Nsungwaale, said: “This is a matter that requires our ancestors’ guidance.
“We must perform the necessary rituals to appease the spirits and restore balance to our community.”
NewsDay Weekender interviewed a village head, who spoke anonymously saying that he was worried about the future of the learners.
“I am worried about the children, but we cannot ignore the role of modernity in this crisis,” he said.
“Maybe it’s a sign that we need to re-evaluate our ways and find a balance between tradition and progress.”
Local spirit medium, Siabusyu Munkombwe, said the spirits are restless and the children are sensing their unease.
“We must listen to their messages and take action to heal the land and our people.”
A parent who has seen his child collapsing while at home and school, Luzibo Mutale, said she was scared, but hoped that authorities would find ways to ease the situation.
“I am scared for my child’s safety,” she said.
“We need answers, and we need them now. “What’s happening to our school is not normal.”
Binga Residents Trust chairperson Mayasi Mudenda described the situation as painful.
“The situation we are facing is so sad.
“Imagine children are disturbed and robbed of their learning time.
“We hope the situation comes to normal at school.”
As local authorities continue their investigations, the haunting at Sikajaya Muntanga Primary School stands as a mirror of how closely belief, culture and education are intertwined.
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