Martin Muleya
Arguably the biggest public transport operator in Manicaland Province, Isau Mupfumi who was arrested yesterday following an orgy of violence by touts that rocked the gateway city to the sea on Thursday has allegedly been hospitalized under heavy police guard.
Mupfumi who had recently briefly relocated to Harare was allegedly rushed to hospital at midnight after he complained that he was not feeling well while in police custody following his arrest during an ongoing operation triggered by machete and iron bars attack by rank marshals of rival buses at the Old Harare rank in Mutare City.
“We arrested Mupfumi yesterday (Saturday) and at midnight he fell sick and was rushed to hospital under police guard and he is undergoing treatment,” said a police detail who was part of the officers who arrested the Zanu PF Central Committee member and businessman.
A close associate of Mupfumi told The Midweek Watch that the business mogul is indeed still recovering from a stroke which he suffered recently after he lost US$60 000 to robbers and his condition could have gotten worse due to the incarceration.
Mupfumi runs Gold Class buses which ply Mutare-Harare route and Mutare-Bulawayo as well.
On Friday The Midweek Watch broke the story that the police are coming down hard on bus operators as well as touts for causing mayhem at ranks which led to serious skirmishes at Old Harare rank in Mutare City.
National Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Midweek Watch that he is yet to be updated on the latest developments on the ground, but will find out and issue a statement.
Meanwhile Commissioner Nyathi issued a statement in which he confirmed the arrest of Gold Class buses owner Mupfumi, touts, criminal gangs, and rank marshals in connection with the public violence that occurred last Thursday.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of bus operator, criminal gangs and rank marshals in connection with the public violence that occured in Mutare last Thursday. The arrested suspects include Isau Mupfumi (62), Jealous Mukorera (36), Michael Chigaro (37), Tatenda Chamusingarevi (22), Cassidy Chabvuta (33), Clayton Muchineripi (24), Donemore Dube (44), Kudzanai Neshiri (24), Taurai Gumende (36), Constantine Makombe (21), Tawanda Mataura (42), Liberty Simonyi (28), Rodrick Chiutsi (32), James Bhekete (35), Daniel Edmore Shupai (25), Noah Mabota (26), Wayne Mafuta (21), Blessing Chikukwa (30), Donald Matakure (23), Oracio Migayo (18) and Luckmore Shamhu (30).
“Some of the suspects were hired and paid to engage in public violence using vehicles carrying machetes and other weapons. In one of the incidents police had to fire warning shots to effect arrests as the gangs were fighting and striking one another with machetes, stones, iron bars and other weapons,” said Nyathi.
“Some members of the public were caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries. ZRP reiterated that any bus operator and their criminal gangs who try to cause chaos or violence at commuter ranks or bus termini will face the full wrath of the law, warned Ass Comm Nyathi in a statement.
He mentioned that police had recovered a white Toyota Hiace vehicle ABF 2518, a white Toyota Belta AFA 6517, a white Mazda 323 ABM 8801, a silver Toyota Wish AEP 6689, a white Honda Fit AFM 1550, a white Toyota Aqua AGG 0083, knives, hoe handles, iron bars, stones, two slushers, a red and black sjambok and a 1.5 metres deformed bar.
Comm Nyathi explained that initial police investigations indicated that there was a fight over loading bays and ranks at Harare-Mutare Old Rank in the Mutare Central Business District and Mudzviti rank pitting rival buses.
