News / National
6 men arrested over abduction, assault of Zebra Kiss bus passenger
21 hrs ago | Views
Six men have been arrested following the brutal abduction and assault of Charlotte Dube, a cross-border trader who was baselessly accused of theft while traveling from Lusaka to Harare.
According to reports first broken by H-Metro, the group accused Charlotte of stealing a parcel on the bus she used to travel. The accusation stemmed from a fellow passenger's claim that she had lost a parcel, which the bus crew wrongly attributed to Charlotte.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrests, stating, "Police have arrested six men in connection with the physical assault of a woman. She was accused by the bus crew of allegedly stealing a parcel in what was a case of mistaken identity."
The incident escalated when the bus conductor, identified as Pardy, ordered Charlotte to remain on the bus. She was then driven to the company's garage, where five men - identified as Marvin, Munashe, Kuda, Roma, and a man known as Baba Keketso - took turns beating her with wooden planks.
Charlotte suffered injuries to her hands, buttocks, and back from the savage beating.
The passenger who initially claimed to have lost the parcel later contacted the bus crew to clarify that her parcel was not stolen. Following this, Zebra Kiss manager Kudakwashe Mupfukirei apologized to Charlotte, admitting fault in the incident.
Mupfukirei sent a WhatsApp message to Charlotte's husband, suggesting the bus crew might have been under the influence of alcohol during the assault and offered to compensate Charlotte with US$300 for her injuries and losses.
Charlotte described the Zebra Kiss crew's actions as "heartless" and expressed her deep disappointment. "I have been relying on Zebra Kiss for all my trips as a cross-border trader, but this time they destroyed my trust," she said.
"The conductor Pardy engaged five staff members who took turns beating me at their garage. They confiscated my goods and handed them over to the passenger who claimed to have lost the parcel. I have reported the assault," Charlotte added.
Inspector Chakanza confirmed that the suspects are expected to appear in court today as investigations continue.
According to reports first broken by H-Metro, the group accused Charlotte of stealing a parcel on the bus she used to travel. The accusation stemmed from a fellow passenger's claim that she had lost a parcel, which the bus crew wrongly attributed to Charlotte.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrests, stating, "Police have arrested six men in connection with the physical assault of a woman. She was accused by the bus crew of allegedly stealing a parcel in what was a case of mistaken identity."
The incident escalated when the bus conductor, identified as Pardy, ordered Charlotte to remain on the bus. She was then driven to the company's garage, where five men - identified as Marvin, Munashe, Kuda, Roma, and a man known as Baba Keketso - took turns beating her with wooden planks.
Charlotte suffered injuries to her hands, buttocks, and back from the savage beating.
Mupfukirei sent a WhatsApp message to Charlotte's husband, suggesting the bus crew might have been under the influence of alcohol during the assault and offered to compensate Charlotte with US$300 for her injuries and losses.
Charlotte described the Zebra Kiss crew's actions as "heartless" and expressed her deep disappointment. "I have been relying on Zebra Kiss for all my trips as a cross-border trader, but this time they destroyed my trust," she said.
"The conductor Pardy engaged five staff members who took turns beating me at their garage. They confiscated my goods and handed them over to the passenger who claimed to have lost the parcel. I have reported the assault," Charlotte added.
Inspector Chakanza confirmed that the suspects are expected to appear in court today as investigations continue.
Source - H-Metro
