Martin Muleya
Police in Manicaland have vowed to flash out all rank marshals in the city who are terrorizing commuters and creating chaos at bus ranks.
The operation to flush out rank marshals comes at a time when two rank marshals were badly injured at Old Harare bus rank by fellow touts.
Manicaland Police acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka told The Midweek Watch that cops have already been deployed around all the bus ranks in a bid to restore order and sanity.
Chinyoka also confirmed that Nash Mudukuti (32) also known as Bazooka sustained cuts on his left hand, left leg, and forehead while Munyaradzi Mudiho (29) sustained swollen right leg and bruises on his face following the skirmishes at the bus rank located in the central business district.
“On 23 May 2024 at 0800hrs the two complainants reported a case that had occurred at Mudzviti rank. The duo reported at Mutare Central police station that they had been attacked at the rank.
“On the same day at 0820hrs police reacted to this information and arrived at the Old rank but while at a distance a white Toyota Hiace AFB 2518 that was being driven by Michael Chigaro arrived with several rank marshals on board.
“The rank marshals disembarked from the Hiace armed with stones and machetes and assaulted the complainants,” said Chinyoka.
Chinyoka narrated that police detectives who had ambushed the rank, fired warning shots ordering all the accused persons to lie down on the ground.
However, some of the accused persons fled while the remaining seven accused persons who had lied down were subsequently arrested.
The badly injured, Mudiho and Mudukuti were referred to Victoria Chitepo Hospital for medical attention. Police recovered stones and the Toyota Hiace omnibus is being held at the station as exhibit.
“We have already deployed our officers around the city to flush out all rank marshals. While this is being done, we also urge stakeholders in the transport business to come up with amicable solutions to solve their differences.
“As law enforcement agents our duty is to maintain peace and order. The seven accused persons who were detained yesterday will have their day in court and our operation is still on-going,” added Ass Insp Chinyoka.
