Zebra Kiss gang appears in court

Six employees of long-distance bus operator Zebra Kiss appeared before the Mbare Magistrates' Court on Tuesday facing assault and theft charges after allegedly launching a vicious attack on a female passenger using wooden sticks, including one fashioned from a guava tree log.

The accused - Marlvin Chenjerai Maidei (32) of Glen Norah, Munashe Nhambura (26) of Chitungwiza, Decent Musonza (33) of Mbare, Kudakwashe Gotora (32) of Marondera, Romario Mugabe (30) of Highfield, and Pardon Chivhanga (32) of Waterfalls - are being charged for the physical assault of Charlotte Dube, a 27-year-old woman from Stoneridge.

Prosecutor Simbiso Shonhiwa told the court that the incident occurred last Friday at the Zebra Kiss garage in Harare, after Dube had arrived from Zambia on one of the company's buses. Upon disembarking, a fellow passenger reportedly raised an alarm over a missing sack containing goods, prompting Romario Mugabe to accuse Dube of theft. He claimed that she had only declared a green bag when she boarded the bus but was now in possession of both a bag and a sack.

Tensions flared when Romario allegedly slapped Dube twice in the face and forced her back into the bus. After the disputed sack was opened and its contents handed over to the other passenger, five more Zebra Kiss workers reportedly joined in and launched a coordinated attack on Dube.

The State alleges that Marlvin Maidei struck her several times with a wooden stick cut from a guava tree, targeting her back and buttocks. Decent Musonza and Kudakwashe Gotora also allegedly used sticks from a guava tree to assault her. Munashe Nhambura is accused of pouring cold water over Dube's body during the ordeal, further worsening her distress. Romario Mugabe, who initiated the attack, allegedly continued slapping her, while Pardon Chivhanga is accused of standing by, giving instructions to the others. He later reportedly ordered that water be provided so that Dube could clean herself after the beating.

Following the assault, Dube sustained visible injuries and was medically examined. The prosecution argued that the attack was clearly intended to cause bodily harm or, at the very least, was carried out with the knowledge that serious injury could result.

Magistrate Tatenda Mukurunga granted all six accused free bail and ordered them to return to court on July 17. The case has raised alarm over the conduct of public transport staff and has drawn condemnation from passengers' rights advocates, who are now calling for tighter regulation of bus operators and improved training for their employees.