Nip Milenge witchcraft nonsense

TEACHERS are regarded as educated people who enjoy considerable respect and admiration in rural communities.

It is therefore disappointing that the media continues to publish stories of teachers accusing local communities of harassing them through witchcraft.

In most cases it is those teachers from urban areas who applied for employment in rural schools who come up with such ridiculous complaints to dupe the Ministry of General Education into giving them transfers back to urban areas.

The stand-off between teachers at Butimwe Primary School in Milenge District, Luapula Province, and the local community over allegations of witchcraft should not be tolerated because it is only threatening the future of children.

The tension is uncalled for, and we urge the district commissioner to work with the district education secretary (DEBS) to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

It is laughable that teachers could be exhibiting such superstition.

Commissioner Kunda Chibilo who has bemoaned the lack of cooperation between the community and teachers at the school.

The teachers have angered the villagers by accusing them of bewitching them.

But as Mr Chibilo has said the unnecessary standoff has negatively affected children, whose only hope of breaking out of rural poverty lies in education.

It is unfortunate that the situation has got to a point where the DC had to address a meeting to resolve the matter.

Milenge is one of the most under-developed districts in Luapula Province because of its remoteness.

It has, however, started changing after being elevated to a district in 2012 with Government implementing a number of development projects in various sectors.

There is even a boarding secondary school while the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is electrifying the area.

Why, therefore, should teachers want to arm-twist Government into transferring them to urban areas under the pretext of witchcraft?

The allegations and counter allegations of witchcraft by both the teachers and villagers is retrogressive.

In areas where there are high levels of illiteracy the fear of witchcraft holds people hostage, which is why the villagers have been accusing teachers of bewitching their children.

There are reports that some parents have threatened to withdraw their children from school.

But it is unacceptable for teachers, whom we believe are educated up to diploma level, can also accuse villagers of using witchcraft to sexually abuse them in their sleep.

And why is it that such complaints mainly come from primary school teachers?

The DEBS should exert authority by censuring those teachers who boycotted classes in protest against imaginary witchcraft.

What is even more disturbing is that even the DEBS believes the nonsense instead of reprimanding the teachers.

ZANIS reports that the DEBS, Lameck Lungo, said witchcraft attacks had been disturbing classes since last term.

 “There is confusion at the school as community members claim teachers are bewitching their children while teachers are also accusing the community of using witchcraft powers to have sex with them at night,” Mr Lungo said.

We are, however, happy that Mr Lungo instructed the superstitious teachers at the school to resume teaching and stay focused.

Instead of seeking medical answers to the pupils who may be suffering from mental illness it is understandable that the villagers are blaming witchcraft.

There is even suspicion that teachers have been bewitching pupils so that they fail examinations when the truth is that the children had not been preparing adequately.

What is needed is sensitisation.

Those teachers who are not willing to work in rural areas should resign and find something else to do.

Equally, the villagers around Butimwe Primary School also realise that teachers are there to help their children attain education and break out of poverty.

If the teachers start refusing being posted to the school who will suffer? Of course, it is not the teachers.