News / National
Kombi crew kidnaps, assault soldier
07 May 2014 at 16:37hrs | Views
A commuter omnibus operator and seven of her employees escaped trial after a soldier who reported kidnap and assault charges withdrew the claims before the Harare Magistrates' Court.
Walter Whatmore Tekwani withdrew the charges last Friday before magistrate Arnold Maburo.
He had reported assault and kidnapping charges against Chantelle Mnangagwa, 35, Flint Chamboko, 23, Sunrise Madya, 25, Joseph Masinhiri, 21, Carringtone Chikafu, 29, Sharme Nyamapfeni, 35, Russel Masiya, 18 and Thomson Dzamagwe, 21.
The State withdrew charges at Tekwani's instance.
According to State papers, the incident took place on March 26 this year when Tekwani, who was wearing the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) uniform, boarded a commuter omnibus from the city centre to Tynwald North.
Along the way, it is alleged that Tekwani had a dispute with Chamboko and Madya over the payment of a R5 transport fare for the journey.
The crew allegedly threw keys at Tekwani, leaving the soldier in charge of the car.
Tekwani took the keys and locked the car. He sat at a nearby tuck shop, waiting for the commuter omnibus crew to return.
After some minutes, the court heard, Mnangagwa arrived driving a Mazda 6, while in the company of the other accused persons, who were driving two different commuter omnibuses.
Mnangagwa asked for the keys from Tekwani, before the other accused persons started assaulting him.
The group later bundled Tekwani into Mnangagwa's car, before driving to Sanganai Inn, where they continued assaulting him.
Chikafu asked the other accused to stop assaulting Tekwani since he was now looking weak as a result of the battering.
It is alleged that Tekwani was later taken back into Mnangagwa's car. Mnangagwa started driving towards Dzivarasekwa and along the way she contacted her relative, staff sergeant Katiyo who is also employed by the ZNA.
Katiyo instructed Mnangagwa to take Tekwani to the Presidential Guard. Upon arrival, the commuter omnibus crew drove off, leaving Mnangagwa with Tekwani.
The matter was later reported to police, leading to the group's arrest.
Walter Whatmore Tekwani withdrew the charges last Friday before magistrate Arnold Maburo.
He had reported assault and kidnapping charges against Chantelle Mnangagwa, 35, Flint Chamboko, 23, Sunrise Madya, 25, Joseph Masinhiri, 21, Carringtone Chikafu, 29, Sharme Nyamapfeni, 35, Russel Masiya, 18 and Thomson Dzamagwe, 21.
The State withdrew charges at Tekwani's instance.
According to State papers, the incident took place on March 26 this year when Tekwani, who was wearing the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) uniform, boarded a commuter omnibus from the city centre to Tynwald North.
Along the way, it is alleged that Tekwani had a dispute with Chamboko and Madya over the payment of a R5 transport fare for the journey.
The crew allegedly threw keys at Tekwani, leaving the soldier in charge of the car.
After some minutes, the court heard, Mnangagwa arrived driving a Mazda 6, while in the company of the other accused persons, who were driving two different commuter omnibuses.
Mnangagwa asked for the keys from Tekwani, before the other accused persons started assaulting him.
The group later bundled Tekwani into Mnangagwa's car, before driving to Sanganai Inn, where they continued assaulting him.
Chikafu asked the other accused to stop assaulting Tekwani since he was now looking weak as a result of the battering.
It is alleged that Tekwani was later taken back into Mnangagwa's car. Mnangagwa started driving towards Dzivarasekwa and along the way she contacted her relative, staff sergeant Katiyo who is also employed by the ZNA.
Katiyo instructed Mnangagwa to take Tekwani to the Presidential Guard. Upon arrival, the commuter omnibus crew drove off, leaving Mnangagwa with Tekwani.
The matter was later reported to police, leading to the group's arrest.
Source - dailynews
