School closed over‘Satanism’ allegations

School authorities at Chabwera Primary School in Liwonde, Machinga District have closed the school following riots by irate learners due to allegations of ‘satanic’ attacks at the institution.  

The chaos at the school reigned for hours and calm was only restored following the intervention of police officers who referred learners who had fainted to Machinga District Hospital for medical attention.

In an interview, one of the community members, Ethel Chindamba from Chabwera Village in Senior Chief Sitola, alleged that Standard Six and Seven learners faint in classes.

She said: “My daughter has been fainting since Thursday. This is new and it has never happened to her since she was born.

“My daughter claimed that something was hung around her neck which made it difficult for breathing.”

Machinga District Hospital spokesperson Ongani Nyirenda confirmed to have received two learners from the school for examination.

He said: “But after examination, the learners were not showing any sign of sickness but hallucination and agitation.

“Police demanded that they should be tested for malaria. However, malaria results came out negative and we observed that they were showing strange signs.”

During a visit to the school yesterday, it was established that no learning was taking place.

In random interviews, people alleged that a certain female teacher was behind the learners’ conditions.

They have since demanded transfer of the said teacher.

But when contacted, Machinga district director of education Nellie Kamtedza declined to comment, saying they have launched investigation.