Martin Muleya
Gold Class owner, Isau Mupfumi (62) has appeared before Manicaland Provincial Magistrate, Tendai Mahwe facing allegations of inciting public violence in the gateway to the sea city last Thursday.
Mupfumi was not asked to plead and was represented by Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza Chinzamba Associates.
He was granted US$1000 bail and will be back in the dock on June 18.
The transport mogul was arrested last Saturday following an orgy of fierce fighting between touts of different bus operators that ply the lucrative Harare Mutare route. Touts belonging to Mpfumi were seriously injured in the wild attacks and two of them are still admitted in hospital after being indiscriminately attacked by machetes and golf sticks. Thirty-nine touts were arrested and appeared in court on Monday, where they pleaded no guilty to charges of public violence and were remanded in custody to June 10 for continuation of trial.
It was the State’s case led by Tirivanhu Mutyasira that on 23rd and 24th May 2024, Mupfumi allegedly communicated with his rank marshals intending to disturb peace by arming themselves with machetes, sjamboks, golf sticks and knives in order to attack rank marshals of other bus operators.
“On Thursday accused’s senior rank marshal at Sakubva Musika Rank, Farai Chitsa (39) was attacked with machetes, sjamboks golf sticks, and knives by rank marshals belonging to other bus companies. The accused person then allowed his rank marshals to retaliate. On the same day a group of Mupfumi Buses rank marshals proceeded to Harare Old Rank driving in two commuter omnibuses.
“The rank marshals disembarked and started attacking rank marshals belong to other bus companies with machetes, sjamboks golf sticks and knives. Police officers attended the scene and fired warning shots in a bid to arrest the rank marshals,” said Mutyasira.
Danmore Dube (44) together with Taurai Gumende and seven others were arrested. The police officers managed to recover a Toyota Hiace omnibus AFB 2518, machetes and stones that were in the omnibus as well as another Toyota baby Quantum that were being driven by the duo.
Mutyasira added that on the following day, the accused person’s rank marshals fought with rank marshals belonging to other bus operators at Green Market, Mutare. When the law enforcement agents arrived at the scene, they fled the crime scene and went to hide at the accused’s garage, at number 5272 Durban Road, Nyakamete, Mutare.Â
They were trailed by police where James Bhekete and his accomplices were arrested while at the garage.
