Mass hysteria hits school

MAYHEM rocked Riverside Primary School in Gweru on Monday as pupils were hit by mass hysteria before collapsing.

Four pupils fell into a trance then collapsed at the school grounds. School authorities had to call in the pupilsa�� parents to take their children home.

One of the parents only identified as Edmore whose child was also hit by the hysteria spoke to B-Metro.

a�?I was first called on Friday by the school authorities to fetch my daughter because she had collapsed. When I arrived there, she lay still as if she was dead and her body was stiff. I took her home where she woke up. She told me that she saw people who were wearing black clothes praying at the devila��s corner. I inquired from the other pupils what the devila��s corner is and they showed me some spot at the playground,a�? said Edmore.

He was to go to the school again on Monday.

a�?I was also called again this Monday after she (daughter) and other three pupils collapsed. It was serious and froth was coming out of her mouth. We took her to Totonga Clinic where one nurse said they attend to a lot of pupils having the same problem from the same school. A teacher at the school advised me to transfer my daughter like other parents,a�? he added.

A teacher at the school who refused to be named for professional reasons said teachers and pupils at the school were now living in fear.

a�?This problem has been going on for a long time now but nothing has been done by the school authorities. We are hoping that parents will take action about it but they seem to be scared as well. All pupils who fall under the spell claim to have seen a group of people wearing black at the devila��s corner,a�? said the teacher.

The provincial education officer for Midlands province Agnes Gudo said she was yet to receive a report on the matter.

a�?I havena��t heard anything about that matter but I will have to send the district inspector to find out from the school,a�? said Gudo. .