Head of ‘bewitched’ school suspended

THE principal of a school in the Ohangwena Region that made headlines last year because of claims that demons were terrorising children has been suspended.

The regional Director of Education, Josia Udjombala, told The Namibian yesterday that the principal of Mumbwenge Combined School, Helena Makili, was suspended without pay on Monday. During Makili’s suspension, there will be an investigation into allegations that her actions had caused chaos at the school and endangered the lives of people.Rumours that ‘demons’ were terrorising pupils at the school surfaced in July last year.Pupils reported seeing supernatural beings and started to scream and faint.After the happenings were reported in the media, several religious organisations volunteered to visit the school to pray and try to chase away the ‘demons’.On January 19 this year, Education Director Udjombala and other regional education officials visited the school to investigate.In a meeting with the principal and school board, it was revealed that some of the ‘bewitched’ pupils had named other children, a teacher and community members as responsible for sending demons to torment them.This had led to division in the community and some of the people named by the children were assaulted.During the meeting, Udjombala was also informed that a witchdoctor had been called to the school to offer his services.Udjombala accused principal Makili of allowing disorder at the school and not disciplining pupils who assaulted their schoolmates.He also berated Makili for allowing witchdoctors to become involved in school matters and appealed to the community to guard against witchcraft and superstition.Udjombala told the meeting that if the situation did not return to normal soon, he would have no option but to close the school and send the children to other schools.During Makili’s suspension, there will be an investigation into allegations that her actions had caused chaos at the school and endangered the lives of people.Rumours that ‘demons’ were terrorising pupils at the school surfaced in July last year.Pupils reported seeing supernatural beings and started to scream and faint.After the happenings were reported in the media, several religious organisations volunteered to visit the school to pray and try to chase away the ‘demons’. On January 19 this year, Education Director Udjombala and other regional education officials visited the school to investigate.In a meeting with the principal and school board, it was revealed that some of the ‘bewitched’ pupils had named other children, a teacher and community members as responsible for sending demons to torment them.This had led to division in the community and some of the people named by the children were assaulted.During the meeting, Udjombala was also informed that a witchdoctor had been called to the school to offer his services.Udjombala accused principal Makili of allowing disorder at the school and not disciplining pupils who assaulted their schoolmates.He also berated Makili for allowing witchdoctors to become involved in school matters and appealed to the community to guard against witchcraft and superstition.Udjombala told the meeting that if the situation did not return to normal soon, he would have no option but to close the school and send the children to other schools.