Times Of Swaziland: ZANDONDO TEACHERS FLEE AFTER THREATS OF ATTACK

ZANDONDO TEACHERS FLEE AFTER THREATS OF ATTACK
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Joseph Zulu on 17/02/2022 09:22:00


PIGG’S PEAK - Over a week ago, Zandondo High School was considered safe such
that the school did not even have a security guard during the day, but this has
since changed.
On Tuesday night, teachers from the school as well the primary fled from their
houses after alleged threats that they would be attacked. The teachers are said
to have left between 9pm and midnight. They allegedly fled with their children
in fear that they could be the next victims. There were threats that some
residents were planning to burn their houses during the early hours of
yesterday.
Incident
The alleged threats followed a recent incident in which a pupil at Zandondo High
School, Njabuliso Vilakati, was kidnapped in full view of others. He was
assaulted by men wielding bush knives and an axe. He was then tied up and taken
to his parental home where houses had been set alight. He was then thrown into
one of the burning houses after being accused of practising witchcraft. He died
from the incident. The following day, police officers arrested nine people,
including a son to the chief’s area. It is alleged that some of the residents
were angry about the arrest and blamed some teachers for giving descriptions of
the accused to the police. They accused the teachers of fingering the people who
ended up being arrested. It is alleged that some residents informed the teachers
that an attack was being planned in the early hours of yesterday.
Upon hearing this, the teachers are said to have grouped  and decided to leave
the area. The affected teachers are said to have been those who lived at the
school’s quarters. Teachers from both the high and primary schools are
accommodated at the same place. Some of the residents also confirmed this. They
said the teachers were being referred to as timpimbi, meaning police informats.
They said the residents were angry, especially because the mother of the boy who
was allegedly killed managed to escape. It is alleged that she was the target
when they stormed her homestead, which is about a kilometre away from the
school.
Escaped
She is said to have escaped with another of her children. Teachers who spoke on
condition of anonymity said the situation was still tense and unpredictable.
They said their only hope was when the residents met and discussed this issue.
Yesterday, there were only five teachers at the high school including the head
teacher. The school has about 17 teachers. This meant that about 12 teachers did
not show up yesterday.  Further, some of the teachers at Zandondo Primary School
did not show. The absence of some of the teachers affected classes at both
schools. Police officers are said to have been roped in in the morning
yesterday. They maintained order at the school and provided security until the
Form III pupils finished writing their examinations.
The head teacher could not be reached for comment on the matter but this
publication gathered that the incident had also been reported to the Hhohho
Regional Education Officer (REO), Thuli Ngwenya. She was called on her cellphone
but it rang unanswered.