A huge snake caused a stir at Beit Bridge Border Post on Thursday last week when it entered a Zimbabwean cross-border bus, leaving the bus crew and passengers scurrying for cover.

The incident, which occurred at around 15:00, left scores of travellers and residents of the border town shell-shocked.

Business at the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa was temporarily brought to a halt as customs and immigration officers jostled to catch a glimpse of the snake.

According to witnesses, the reptile, measuring about 1,5 metres, was allegedly seen coming out of a bag, whose owner is unknown, before it eventually sneaked into a cross-border bus, which was parked at the customs yard.

The bus was carrying passengers who had just gone through customs procedure.

The driver of the bus belonging to Gettington Bus Company said the snake sneaked into the engine compartment to hide.

“I was shocked when I saw a huge snake inside the bus as I was preparing to pull out of the border post. In fact, what is really shocking is that it slid into the bonnet, despite the heat emanating from the engine,” said Ezekiel Makambwa, the driver.

Members of the Beit Bridge SAPS had to be called to the scene and they used pepper spray in a bid to force the snake to come out of the bus engine, but to no avail.

One of the travellers then used a wire hook to fish the snake out, after which it was stoned to death.

The bus then developed a mechanical fault soon after the incident.

When Mirror visited the border post, there was pandemonium as scores of travellers shoved and pushed each to catch sight of the dead reptile.