Opuwo residents protest against alleged witchcraft

OPUWO – Some residents of Opuwo have called on the Kunene Regional Governor to address the problem of alleged witchcraft at two of the town’s primary schools.

Since schools reopened last Tuesday, Opuwo Primary School hostel workers have been on strike, claiming that witchcraft was being practised by one of their colleagues. The 23 workers further alleged that 11 people (workers and pupils) had died while seven pupils from the Opuwo and Kameru primary schools were paralysed as a result of the claimed witchcraft.The last recorded death was on September 4 2004 when a learner died when he fell off a moving vehicle.His death was also linked to alleged ongoing witchcraft at the town.In a petition handed over to Kunene Governor Simson Tjongarero on Friday, the petitioners demanded that the school hostel be cleansed by a traditional healer and that the suspect be transferred to another school.The workers said they were willing to return to work but were afraid of dying “unexpectedly”.Tjongarero said he understood the petitioners’ concern but said he was not in a position to do anything about it there are laws, rules and regulations governing the administration of education in the country.He said witchcraft was very difficult to prove in a court of law.- NampaThe 23 workers further alleged that 11 people (workers and pupils) had died while seven pupils from the Opuwo and Kameru primary schools were paralysed as a result of the claimed witchcraft.The last recorded death was on September 4 2004 when a learner died when he fell off a moving vehicle.His death was also linked to alleged ongoing witchcraft at the town.In a petition handed over to Kunene Governor Simson Tjongarero on Friday, the petitioners demanded that the school hostel be cleansed by a traditional healer and that the suspect be transferred to another school.The workers said they were willing to return to work but were afraid of dying “unexpectedly”.Tjongarero said he understood the petitioners’ concern but said he was not in a position to do anything about it there are laws, rules and regulations governing the administration of education in the country.He said witchcraft was very difficult to prove in a court of law. – Nampa