Black Mamba kills Form 6 pupil within 30 mins at Rushinga High School

Tragedy struck in a classroom at Rushinga High School in Mashonaland Central on Thursday afternoon when a Black Mamba snake bit a 17-year-old Form 6 pupil, killing her within 30 minutes.

Melody Chiputura (17) is reported to have returned back to the classroom from afternoon sports with other pupils when the snake struck her on the thigh.

Attempts to rush her to hospital were in vain as Melody is said to have died on the way there. She was buried on Saturday at Kanyemba village in Rushinga.

Her father Joseph Chiputura spoke to the State owned Herald newspaper and narrated what happened.

“We received a call 10 minutes after she was bitten. When we arrived at the clinic it was too late. This is hard to accept and it is painful. I don’t understand how a snake can get into a classroom and bite my daughter.

“My daughter had great potential and she loved going to school. She had great hopes pinned on education and we had to make sure we provided everything she needed.

“She was doing History, Psychology and Religious Studies and her dream was to become a psychologist,” he said.

Rushinga High School head Mr Christopher Murenga said, “It was on Thursday and all learners went for sporting activities as per the school timetable. At around 3.50 pm the learners returned to their classroom as they prepared to leave for the day.

“She sat on her usual desk, the third desk to the wall, and two desks in front of her were occupied by her classmates. Immediately she screamed, saying something had bitten her.

“The learners discovered the snake and everyone panicked with some jumping out through windows. Some of the boys took Melody outside and started calling for help.”