2 Schools Closed Following Satanism Scare

Maramba Secondary School in Mutawatawa and St Joseph Secondary School in Rusape have been shut down following a Satanism scare. Makoni district schools inspector Nathaniel Machini and Manicaland provincial education director Edward Shumba reportedly visited St Joseph School last week to assess the situation after parents demanded that the school remains closed.

Maramba Secondary where seven female students were affected last week, classes were suspended by the school development committee (SDC) on Friday after the students went into mass hysteria and were admitted to Mutawatawa District Hospital. An SDC report recommended that the school undertake a cleansing ceremony and students should not come to school until one is conducted.

Efforts by NewsDay to get a comment from the Primary and Secondary Education ministry were fruitless yesterday, but police in Mashonaland East province confirmed receiving the Satanism scare report. Maramba ward councillor Tichafunga Marekera invited education officials to make their investigations into the matter.