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The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested two Harare men on allegations of assault, kidnapping and extorting a 30 year old Glennorah man after he demanded his change and reportedly struck the window of the Kombi following a misunderstanding with the conductor and the driver.
According to a police report, Tawanda Mangwiro boarded a commuter omnibus, with no passengers from Zindoga, and paid USD10 as bus fare, but the conductor gave him USD9 insisting he didn’t have the ZiG change. An altercation began between the two, as Mangwiro demanded his money back if there was no change.
Panashe Makoto gave Mangwiro USD9 with ZW3000 as change, but allegedly further assaulted him with booted feet and fists all over the body, which drew Takundzwa Shambare’s attention, prompting him to stop the engine and join his conductor’s “cruel behavior”.
They later dragged the victim out and drove off, but before going any further, furious Mangwiro struck the back window of the Kombi with an empty bottle he was holding. Makoto and Shambare then returned and dragged the victim back into the Kombi, where they tied his feet to a Kombi seat and allegedly assaulted him along their way to their Waterfalls garage.
Mangwiro reportedly spent the night tied in the Kombi, and on the next day Shambare and his accomplice reportedly called the brother of the victim, Fungai Mangwiro, demanding an undisclosed amount to repair the broken back window so that the victim will be released.
However, a report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of Shambare and Makoto, facing charges of assault, kidnapping and extortion. Tawanda Mangwiro was referred to Sally Mugabe Hospital for medication, but he was facing a charge of malicious damage to property.
ZRP Harare Provincial spokesperson Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrest and said investigations are underway.
He said, “On the 6th of April 2024 at about 2300 hours, the complainant boarded a commuter omnibus at Zindoga which was being driven by accused 1 intending to go to Murefu Service Station. There were no passengers onboard. He paid $10 and was given US $9 change by accused 2 instead of $9.50 as previously agreed. Accused 1 and 2 insisted that their bus fare was $1.00 since there was no ZIG Change.
“A misunderstanding arose among the parties. The complainant demanded his money back, and accused 2 gave the complainant his change of US9-00 and ZWL$3000. Accused 2 started assaulting the complainant with booted feet and fists all over the body. Accused 1 parked the vehicle at corner Derbyshire and Simon Mazorodze Road and joined in the assault. They dragged complainant out of the commuter omnibus and drove off.
“Complainant struck the back window of the commuter omnibus using an empty beer bottle which he was holding. Accused 1 stopped the vehicle, and they proceeded to where the complainant was. They grabbed, dragged and tied him to a seat with a rope, and continued to assault him. Accused persons drove their vehicle to a garage in Waterfalls, where they parked the vehicle for the night. Complainant spent the night tied inside the commuter omnibus. On the 07th April 2024 the accused persons used complainant’s cellphone to call his brother Fungai Mangwiro who resides in Waterfalls to bring money for the repair of the damaged screen.
“They stated that they could only release the complainant after payment of an undisclosed amount was made. A report was made to the police, and the scene was attended. The two accused persons arrested are facing charges of assault, kidnapping and extortion, whilst the complainant is facing a charge of malicious damage to property.”
