Bees attack forces school to close

The incident, according to witnesses, occurred soon after 8 am when the bees attacked both teachers and pupils in and outside classrooms.Witnesses said the four heavily stung pupils were admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital following the incident.

“The incident resulted in the school calling off                                  lessons on Thursday as a majority of pupils including                      some teachers fled the school after the attack by the bees. Four pupils were stung by the bees all over their bodies and were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where they were admitted,” said the witness.

He said the swarm of bees, which was at the school’s main entrance could have been provoked by some pupils resulting in the insects attacking them.
“It is still a mystery as to what provoked the bees but the school authorities suspect that some pupils could have misbehaved and thrown stones at the bees,” he said.
The source said there was mayhem and confusion when the swarm of bees started stinging pupils who were getting into the school yard.

“They continued to advance into the schoolyard until it degenerated into chaos with retreating pupils and teachers jumping the school fence while others locked themselves into their offices. The incident resulted in pupils including boarders deserting the school forcing the authorities to suspend lessons on that day,” he said.
The source said the matter was reported to the Gweru City Council’s diseases and pest control department, which only visited the school in the afternoon.

“Officials from the council’s disease and pest control department arrived late in the afternoon but they could do nothing to drive away the swarm of bees which was all over the school yard,” he said.
A visit to the school by Chronicle yesterday, however, revealed that business was now back to normal at the school.

Chaplin High school deputy headmaster Mr Sternly Chingono confirmed the incident.
He, however, refused to comment further and referred this reporter to the school head.
“We experienced some problems from some bees at the school recently but unfortunately the headmistress is not in office. She is the one who can give an official comment,” he said.