Online Reporter
FEMALE teachers and learners at Siyaphambili Secondary School in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South province, are desperately seeking assistance after suspected sex-crazed goblins reportedly began sexually harassing them last year.
Victims said the supernatural beings have been attacking them at the school since 2025.
Teachers and learners, some of whom have since left the school, said they would wake up at night feeling as though a “tireless being” was having frantic sex with them.
“Sometimes I would wake up without my underwear, even after wearing tights and skinny jeans that are hard to remove. On other days, I would feel as if something had been sucking on my breasts, leaving them sore. I heard other teachers and learners saying they would wake up very tired, as if they had engaged in a sex marathon,” said one teacher, who declined to be named.
Learners claimed the goblins even attacked some of them during the day, causing mass fainting at the school.
“My friend was among those who collapsed recently. She said she felt as if invisible hands were caressing and pinching her all over before she lost consciousness,” said a learner.
One parent confirmed she withdrew her daughter from the school because of the disturbing reports.
The matter became public in early July after concerned parents demanded answers from the school authorities.
Villagers invited churches to conduct an exorcism just a few metres from the school premises on July 20, 2026.
Sources at the school alleged that several learners had stopped attending classes, while others requested transfers.
“This led the school development committee (SDC) and village heads to mobilise churches to pray at the school in a bid to cast out the evil spirits and restore confidence among fearful learners. We are waiting to see if the prayers worked,” said one source.
A villager who attended the prayers said the disturbing incidents have been occurring for years but were rarely reported.
“These are spirits harassing female teachers and learners. The community decided to invite churches to pray and assist, hoping for change. Last year, the spirits targeted mostly female teachers, but this year they have moved to female learners,” the villager explained.
The district schools inspector for Bulilima, Gobile Gobile, confirmed that prayers were conducted outside the school premises.
“I sent a team of officers from health, the district development coordinator’s office, social development and education to investigate.
The team reported that the situation was calm the following day, though prayers had disturbed teaching and learning. Village heads have been urged to ensure all children attend classes,” he said.
The SDC and village heads are said to have spearheaded the prayer session, though activities spilled onto the school premises, breaching agreed boundaries.
“It seems the SDC and village heads were involved. The school head was not present, as she was attending her father’s burial. She did not initiate these activities. I have phoned the school, and children are currently writing examinations, though some are absent,” Gobile added.
Ellen Gambo, the headmaster, said she was unaware of the alleged incidents.
“I do not know anything about these spiritual harassments. I am not in a position to comment. I am not on duty and do not know what is taking place at the school,” she said.
Headman Ndolwane, a traditional leader in the area, said villagers were angry with him after he asked them to stop the exorcisms.
“I was not invited for the prayers and did not authorise them. This problem started last year, and prayers were held. It stopped for about six months, but now it has started again,” he said. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Principal flees after alleged sexual abuse of 14 learners
The principal of an unregistered secondary school in the low-density suburb of Murambi in Mutare, New Wonderland Academy, is currently on the run after allegedly sexually abusing 14 female learners.
Amos Nyashanu served as both principal and proprietor of the institution.
The incident follows similar reports at St David’s Bonda Girls High School in Mutasa district and Claremont High School in Nyanga district, where the alleged perpetrators are also still at large.
Although the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s chief director for provincial education services in Manicaland, Mr Richard Gabaza, could not be reached for comment, our team understands that a detailed report has been compiled following an inspection by ministry officials and law-enforcement agents.
It is believed that education and police officials were surprised to discover that the institution had not been registered.
“Following a visit by Assistant Inspector Mabvungautsi seeking information on New Wonderland Academy, whose principal was said to have sexually abused learners at the school, the district, which was previously unaware of the school’s existence, visited the institution together with CID officers and members of the Victim-Friendly Unit,” reads part of the report.
The inspection revealed that the school has an enrolment of 70 learners, comprising 37 girls and 33 boys.
Investigators also established that the institution employed four permanent teaching staff members, of whom only two are professionally qualified.
Three additional part-time female teachers were also engaged by the school.
Furthermore, the report revealed a slew of operational shortcomings.
“The school was not registered and was operating illegally. It was offering the Heritage-Based Curriculum from Form One to Form Six. Its first Ordinary Level candidates sat examinations in 2025,” the report states.
Inspectors found that the learning environment fell far below acceptable standards.
Among the concerns raised were overcrowded classrooms, inadequate sanitation facilities and poor infrastructure.
“The school had no sporting facilities. Its infrastructure was not conducive to effective teaching and learning. Classrooms were too small for the number of learners enrolled, while toilet facilities were inadequate and not gender-friendly,” notes the report.
The investigation also uncovered serious concerns regarding learner protection and school governance.
“The school had no written code of conduct for either staff or learners. Furthermore, the environment contained several hazards, including a disused swimming pool and open trenches around the premises, all of which posed safety risks to learners.”
At the time of the inspection, Nyashanu was nowhere to be found.
“The principal, who is also the owner of the school, was not available and was suspected to be on the run while being investigated by police for alleged sexual abuse,” the report states.
Following the visit, investigators recommended a comprehensive inquiry into the school’s operations, including learner welfare, administration and academic standards.
“It was recommended that an urgent and more extensive investigation be conducted focusing on learner welfare issues, administrative systems, and teaching and learning practices,” the report adds.
Education experts have since warned parents against enrolling children in unregistered institutions, noting that such schools often operate outside established regulatory frameworks designed to safeguard learners.
They emphasised that unregistered schools may lack adequate child-protection mechanisms, qualified staff, proper supervision and safe infrastructure, thereby exposing learners, particularly girls, to heightened risks of abuse and neglect.
Parents are urged to verify a school’s registration status with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, assess the qualifications of teaching staff, inspect facilities and ensure that institutions maintain clear child-protection policies before enrolling their children.
Meanwhile, police investigations into the allegations against Nyashanu are continuing, with the authorities appealing for any information that could lead to his arrest. — Manicaland Bureau
