News / National
Kombi driver's hands burnt with cigarette lighter by employer
28 May 2025 at 11:31hrs | Views
A kombi driver, Saini Mwogeni, claims he was assaulted and had his hands burnt by his employer, businessman Fortune Mbizo, following a disagreement over alleged money discrepancies.
Mwogeni said he sustained burns on both hands after Mbizo reportedly used a cigarette lighter to torture him. The row erupted when Mbizo accused Mwogeni of failing to cash the full amount from passengers.
"I worked with him for only three weeks, operating the Epworth-Mbare route," said Saini. "On the day in question, I was hired to drop passengers in Guruve. On my return, I picked passengers and charged them US$8 each. Mbizo accused me of pocketing the rest, saying the fare was supposed to be US$12 each."
He added that Mbizo locked him in a room and inflicted the burns with a lighter, boasting about connections with police officers who would protect him from any repercussions. "He threatened that the case would never be entertained and that he would deal with me and my family," Mwogeni alleged.
Mbizo, contacted for comment, denied the allegations of torture and said Mwogeni had travelled to Guruve without his permission. "That man must tell you the truth. He does not have driving particulars, and I am surprised he is trying to fix me. He went to Guruve without my consent, and I never assaulted him as alleged," Mbizo said.
Saini has since lodged a police report at Epworth Police Station, registered under RRB 6440786, accusing Mbizo of assault.
The police are yet to comment on any investigation into the matter.
Mwogeni said he sustained burns on both hands after Mbizo reportedly used a cigarette lighter to torture him. The row erupted when Mbizo accused Mwogeni of failing to cash the full amount from passengers.
"I worked with him for only three weeks, operating the Epworth-Mbare route," said Saini. "On the day in question, I was hired to drop passengers in Guruve. On my return, I picked passengers and charged them US$8 each. Mbizo accused me of pocketing the rest, saying the fare was supposed to be US$12 each."
He added that Mbizo locked him in a room and inflicted the burns with a lighter, boasting about connections with police officers who would protect him from any repercussions. "He threatened that the case would never be entertained and that he would deal with me and my family," Mwogeni alleged.
Mbizo, contacted for comment, denied the allegations of torture and said Mwogeni had travelled to Guruve without his permission. "That man must tell you the truth. He does not have driving particulars, and I am surprised he is trying to fix me. He went to Guruve without my consent, and I never assaulted him as alleged," Mbizo said.
Saini has since lodged a police report at Epworth Police Station, registered under RRB 6440786, accusing Mbizo of assault.
The police are yet to comment on any investigation into the matter.
Source - Herald
