Rogue Harare passenger sends bus off the road

A 33-year-old Harare man has been fined US$300 after he grabbed the steering wheel of a moving passenger bus on the Harare-Mutare Highway, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and putting dozens of passengers at risk.

Munyaradzi Mutede, of Glen View 3, was convicted by Rusape provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe after pleading guilty to interfering with a driver without reasonable cause, in contravention of Section 60(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act.

He was fined US$300 or, in default, sentenced to four months' imprisonment.

The court heard that Mutede boarded a Trip Trans bus at Mbare Musika bound for Rusape.

While travelling along the Harare-Mutare Highway, he allegedly demanded to be dropped off at Mufusire uphill in Headlands, a location that is not a designated bus stop.

When the bus crew refused, citing road safety regulations and company policy, Mutede reportedly confronted the driver, Maviza Edison Simba, before lunging for the steering wheel.

The ensuing struggle caused the bus to swerve off the road before the driver managed to bring it to a stop several metres from the highway.

According to the prosecution, no one was seriously injured, although the bus sustained damage, including two broken left-side windows.

Passengers overpowered Mutede following the incident and handed him over to police.

Prosecutor Edmore Mahlanganise told the court that the accused acted unlawfully by interfering with the operation of the moving bus.

"On July 1, the accused person boarded a bus at Mbare Musika Bus Terminus and paid bus fare up to Rusape. On approaching Mufusire Mountain, at the 122km peg along Harare-Mutare Highway, the accused person advised the bus crew that he wanted to drop off. The bus crew refused to stop, stating that there was no bus stop and that he had paid bus fare up to Rusape.

"A misunderstanding arose between the driver and the accused person. The accused person got hold of the steering wheel of the moving bus, causing the bus to veer off the road to the left before it stopped. No one was injured and the bus suffered two broken left windows. The accused acted unlawfully," Mahlanganise said.

The incident has renewed concerns over passenger interference with public transport operations, with authorities warning that such actions could easily result in fatal road accidents.

Mufusire uphill, where Mutede wanted to disembark, is notorious for criminal activity. The stretch has long been targeted by armed robbers who prey on slow-moving trucks and stationary vehicles, stealing goods and valuables.

Last year, armed robbers stopped a truck transporting about 5,000 brick pavers after overtaking it and forcing the driver to pull over at gunpoint, stealing cash and mobile phones.

Police have previously conducted coordinated operations in the area, leading to the arrest of several suspects who were later charged with multiple counts of theft from motor vehicles.