Taxi driver flees with passengers' change

A 28-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo taxi driver ran away with his passengers' change and was caught three hours later after ditching them.

Fredrick Moyo of Pumula North suburb ferried three passengers who were travelling from Bulawayo to Plumtree in his car on Wednesday afternoon.

Upon arriving in Plumtree he parked his vehicle by ZB Bank and advised the passengers that he wanted to look for their change.

He was gone for three hours and the passengers gave up waiting for him and reported the matter to the police before proceeding to their respective homes.

Police officers stood guard of Moyo's vehicle and he only pitched up in the evening, resulting in his arrest.

Moyo appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa facing theft charges.

He told the court that he got delayed while looking for change.

"It was not my intention to steal their money your Worship. It is just that I got delayed while looking for change and when I returned I found the police guarding my car and they arrested me.

"I was returning to give the three passengers their change of $5 each but I failed because they were gone by the time I returned. It is difficult to get change money your Worship but if it is okay with the court I could give them back their change," said Moyo.

Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya said Moyo left his passengers waiting for him in his car around 3pm and only returned after 6pm.

"Moyo gave a lift to three passengers namely Siphetheni Moyo, Nkosikhona Nyathi and Constance Ndlovu around 1pm. They arrived in Plumtree around 3pm and the accused person left the passengers sitting in his car to look for their change and promised to return.

"They each had paid $10 and Moyo owed them $5 each. After a long wait they gave up and left the car to make a report at the police station. Moyo returned after 6pm and was arrested. The passengers did not recover their change," said Mr Chinyanganya.

The three complainants seemed adamant that Moyo had ditched them on purpose with the hope that they would give up and leave their money behind.

Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa remanded Moyo in custody to 16 September after he denied having ditched the passengers on purpose.

Moyo said he had to move through different places in search of change.