The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
A TOTAL of 36 culprits are on the run following last week’s bloody violence incidences that rocked Sakubva Bus Terminus in which rank marshals gruesomely attacked each other with knives and knobkerries, apparently tussling for the control of a lucrative kombi loading spot.
Of the fugitive suspects, five of them have since been arrested and were on Wednesday arraigned before the courts on public violence charges.
The nasty fights have affected innocent civilians and vendors who were caught up in the crossfire, resulting in some of them being hospitalised after sustaining injuries in the ensuing fracas.
In last week’s two incidences that took place on Monday and Wednesday respectively, riot police and members of the Zimbabwe National Army had to be called to bring order and arrest the situation.
Lameck Namicinde (44), Tangai Jaravani (36), Farikai Tuso (40), David Sithole (27) and the team’s supposed ring leader, Taurai Gumede (30) on Wednesday appeared before Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing two counts of public violence as defined in Section 36(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
They are denying the charges and were remanded in custody to September 14.
Mr Ashel Mutungura of Mutungura and Partners represented the five, while Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that on August 29, the five and 29 other accomplices who are still at large went to Dangamvura Rank at Sakubva Musika where they grabbed Dickson Chitsinga who is a rank marshal.
“They grabbed his dreadlocks. He was assaulted by the suspects with empty bottles, wooden chairs, hammers and was also stabbed with knives. The complainant’s colleagues managed to escape, but Chitsinga failed,” said Mr Karombe.
He sustained deep cuts on the forehead, right eye, right hand elbow and on the back.
The ensuing violence created commotion and mayhem at Dangamvura Rank, bringing traffic along the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway road to a standstill.
Vendors who were carrying out their business had to scurry for safety.
Two days later on August 31, the gang proceeded to Chipinge Rank at Sakubva Musika and attacked Martin Chitsinga.
“Chitsinga was struck with sticks, stones, sjamboks, axes and knives all over his body. In the process, the gang allegedly stole his $270 and a Samsung cellphone worth $800.
“Total value of the stolen was $1 070 and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Karombe.
Martin sustained several knife cuts and a fractured right leg.
He was only rescued from further attacks following the arrival of members of the Zimbabwe National Army.
In an interview on Wednesday, Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, said they would leave no stone unturned to bring to book all those involved in the skirmishes that have since turned Sakubva Musika into a no-go area.
“We will arrest all those implicated in the violence incidences,” he said.
Apparently, Gumede is facing two separate counts of public violence in connection with skirmishes that occurred at the same area on August 14 in which several people were assaulted.
Allegations were that on August 14, Gumende with his unnamed co-accused persons, who are still at large, met Romeo Makombe at Zvirimugwagwa Bottle Store and assaulted him with a knobkerrie on the head.
The court heard that the gang left Makombe unconscious and went to Sakubva’s Speed area where they attacked David Munatsi and stabbed him with a knife on the left side of the head.
Munatsi sustained a deep cut.
On the same day at around 4pm, the suspect and his accomplices approached Albert Chakwa at Sakubva Marketplace and ordered him to vacate the area.
He was subsequently attacked with a wooden stick on the head.
“The gang then stopped a commuter omnibus, Registration Number ADS 4840 which was being by William Mutezo. Gumende hit the vehicle with a wooden stick and the windscreen was damaged. The suspect and his accomplices who are still at large proceeded to Taurai Mushango’s residence at Number 131, Chineta, Sakubva and attacked him with a machete for no apparent reason.
“They also met Florence Badzarimwe standing at her workplace at Madziro Butchery and also attacked her. She was assaulted with a wooden stick all over her body,” said Mr Karombe.
The gang is alleged to have proceeded to House Number 23, Tenderere, Sakubva where they broke windowpanes using iron bars and wooden sticks.
Gumede is also denying the charges.
The trial continues.
