By Talent Jere
Macheke – A wave of panic and fear swept through Nyazema location on Saturday, January 18, as a swarm of bees attacked residents, forcing them to remain locked inside their homes for safety. The usually busy streets were eerily empty as the aggressive insects stung multiple people, sending several to the clinic for treatment.
One of the victims, Linda Chadzuka, recalled her terrifying ordeal. "I was outside drying my laundry when I suddenly felt a sting on my neck. I shook it off, but before I knew it, a loud buzzing surrounded me, and bees were all over my hair. I ran for help, and a friend poured water on me to drive them away," she said. Linda later experienced severe vomiting and sought medical attention at the local clinic.
A young boy, who was playing with friends in the street, was also attacked. While others managed to escape, he was left seriously stung and was cared for by neighbors before his parents rushed him to the clinic. Another victim, an unidentified man, was so severely stung that he had to be escorted to the clinic by local resident Tondera Mashegede and later transferred to Marondera Hospital for further treatment.
Eyewitnesses traced the source of the swarm to a chimney in a neighboring home, where the bees had reportedly been residing for years. The Marara family, who live near the affected house, said their tenant witnessed a horrifying scene as their dogs were swarmed. "I heard our dogs barking uncontrollably and went outside. I was shocked to see them covered in bees. One was tied to a pole, and the other was trapped in a cage. I couldn't do anything but watch from the window," she recounted. Sadly, one of the dogs did not survive.
In a desperate bid to drive the bees away, some residents resorted to burning tires in their yards. Many now believe that homeowners with beehives on their property should seek professional removal services to prevent such dangerous incidents.
This incident serves as a wake-up call for proper beekeeping awareness and pest control measures to ensure the safety of residents in Macheke and beyond. Authorities are yet to confirm what triggered the bees' aggression, but experts suggest factors such as noise, smoke, or disturbances to their hive could have provoked the attack. Macheke News