Bees attack parishioners during church service

Chronicle Reporter

THERE was pandemonium at United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) church in Njube, Bulawayo, yesterday when a swarm of bees attacked parishioners during a church service forcing them to scurry for cover.
According to eyewitnesses, an elderly man sustained severe injuries from the attack and was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.
“The bees have been within the church premises for more than two weeks and nothing was being done about them. It is an unfortunate incident but it was imminent,” said one witness.
“The bees which were behind the main church building were provoked by children who were playing there. They threw stones at them before they hit them using a stick,” he said.
He said soon after the bees had been provoked they stung everyone within the church vicinity as well as people who were passing by.
“Parishioners who were at the church immediately ran away while others took cover within the building,” he said.
When a Chronicle newscrew arrived at the scene people were all over the place with the bees still in hot pursuit while the injured had been rushed to hospital.
Another witness, Mr Morris Bangekhaya, said the bees were very violent and someone could have died had it not been for the rain.
“We have to thank God because we might be talking a different story right now,” he said.
He said bees naturally react violently when temperatures are high.
“Most children who were playing near the bees sustained serious injuries and had to be rushed to hospital,” he said.
Mr Bangekhaya urged relevant authorities to remove the bees.
“Something needs to be done with the other swarm of bees before they do more damage, they are a danger to the parishioners and the members of the public at large. They have to be removed as soon as possible,” he said.