Normalcy returns to Sherukuru High

MUTASA – Normalcy has returned to Sherukuru High School in Mutasa following the arrest of the teacher who last week went berserk and violently chased away fellow workmates and students while holding a machete. 

The teacher, Caleb Karumbidza, besides exhibiting prolonged temper tantrums, also destroyed valuable school property. He allegedly moved around the usually tranquil school wielding a machete and a screwdriver, creating panic among fellow teachers and students.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mutasa District Education Officer Mr Zachariah Chikwangwani said learning had reverted to normal following Karumbidza’s arrest.

“We succeeded in apprehending him and took him to Mutare Provincial Hospital for medication, but it did not work.

“We discovered that the treatment that we initially thought would help him was not working and surrendered him to his family, whom we understand to have taken him to Harare for psychotherapy,” said Mr Chikwangwani.

“As we speak, there is normalcy at the school. Students and teachers are back at the school and lessons are progressing well,” said Mr Chikwangwani, adding that no criminal charges were preferred against the teacher.

Mr Chikwangwani also said the School Development Committee had started repairing vandalised window panes.

The SDC had last week proposed that the teacher be transferred to a “more secure school”, a decision that can only be taken after an outcome of the psychotherapy that Karumbidza is undergoing.

The suspect is said to have started experiencing mental bouts more than five years ago. His situation is said to have deteriorated recently after he had stopped taking prescribed medication to stabilise his condition. Manica Post