Swarm of bees bids Clinton adieu from MalawiBy REX CHIKOKO in Blantyre | Tuesday, August 7  2012 at  11:55

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her delegation were forced to scamper to safety at Kamuzu International Airport in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe after a swarm of bees struck.

Mrs Clinton did not finish bidding farewell to the officials who had come to see her off as the swarm of bees descended on the airport, forcing her to take to her heels towards her plane.

The Secretary of State was in Malawi for a day-long visit where among other things she held talks with President Joyce Banda, visited dairy farmers and addressed girls drawn from different schools in Lilongwe city.

"As soon as Clinton was bidding farewell to the delegation that came to see her off, a swarm of bees descended on her plane and vehicles that were at the runway. Clinton was rushed into the plane,” one eyewitness said.

'Little mishap'

Director of Information in the Ministry of Information Isaac Cheke Zimba who was present at the airport at the time Mrs Clinton was leaving Malawi said the US Secretary of State's visit to Malawi was successful despite the "little mishap" caused by the swarm of bees.

Mr Zimba, however, said the security personnel from both countries handled the matter professionally as no one was stung.

“Bees in Malawi are not strange. It not something that would not be expected. Maybe it is attracting attention because of Clinton; otherwise it is a common occurrence. The security people handled the situation in the best way possible,” he added.