Killer Bees Terrorise Mabasa Villagers as Runde Bridge Turns into Death

ZVISHAVANE — A long-standing bee infestation under Runde Bridge in Ward 8, under Chief Masunda, has escalated into a full-blown public safety crisis.

For nearly twenty years, aggressive bees have nested beneath the bridge near Mabasa Growth Point, attacking passersby and disrupting daily life for villagers from Shiku, Matenda, Daru, and surrounding areas.

The bridge is a vital crossing for schoolchildren, traders, the elderly, and patients seeking medical care.

However, fear of bee stings has forced many to wait for vehicles to carry them across.

That option is not always safe.

Residents report that bees have attacked moving vehicles, especially when engines rev or windows are open.

Experts warn that swarms can be triggered by vibration, noise, or sudden movement.

Villagers fear that if someone falls seriously ill and no transport is available, they could die simply because the bridge is too dangerous to cross.

Local leadership has been raising concerns for years.

In an interview with Afrogazette News, Village Head Makusha said the infestation has turned daily life into a constant struggle.

“This is no longer just a nuisance — it is a death trap. People are being stung. Children, the elderly, even pregnant women. We have lived with this for over twenty years, and still no one has come to help us.

“Hapachayambukiki netsoka. People are now waking up before sunrise or waiting until sunset just to cross, hoping the bees are less active,” emphasised Makusha.

He said the bees are unusually aggressive and relentless.

“But even then, they attack. These are not ordinary bees. They chase people down and sting them until they collapse. We are pleading – before someone dies.”

Makusha also noted that seasonal rains have failed to drive the bees away.

“Chero mvura ikanaya sei ikazadza bridge, nyudzi idzodzi hadzimboende. They stay. They do not move. It is like they own the bridge now.

“We have tried to wait for the rainy season, hoping it would wash them out, but nothing changes,” explained Makusha.

Gogo Mhofu, an elderly woman who struggles to walk, said she sometimes crawls across the bridge to avoid provoking the bees.

“I do not have the strength to run if they come. So I crawl, slowly, praying they do not see me.

“It is humiliating, but what choice do I have? Sometimes I need to go to Mabasa Growth Point to collect money sent by my children, but I have to beg drivers with kind hearts to help me. Asi misi haifananezvee”, lamented Gogo Mhofu.

A local trader said the bee threat has disrupted business.

“Sometimes I have goods to deliver, but I cannot risk walking. If I do not find a car, I lose the day. I have seen people stung and collapse. It is not just about fear — it is about survival,” explained the trader.

A parent, who requested to remain anonymous, said her Grade Zero child is terrified of crossing the bridge.

“He cries every morning as we approach. Sometimes we wait for a car, but when there’s none, we have no choice but to cross on foot. That’s when the bees sting him. He often comes home swollen. This happens almost daily. I live in fear,” she said.

Bee stings can trigger severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal without immediate medical attention.

Villagers fear that without intervention, the bridge could become the site of a preventable tragedy.

Efforts to reach EMA Midlands Provincial spokesperson Oswald Ndlovu were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Villagers say they have reported the issue multiple times over the years, but no action has been taken.

“We understand bees are important. But these ones are putting lives at risk. We are not asking for them to be killed — we are asking for help to relocate them safely. We need experts. We need protection,” insisted Makusha.

The community is calling on local authorities and EMA to urgently assess the situation and remove the bees before tragedy strikes.