SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

GWERU-Police in the Midlands Province is appealing for information leading to the arrest of two Honda Fit taxi drivers for allegedly abusing and robbing female passengers in different circumstances.
Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the matter to The Mirror.
Mahoko said in one incident, a woman boarded a Honda Fit from Gweru to Shurugwi and was struck with an iron bar, robbed, stripped and pushed out of the speeding vehicle. The incident happened on March 26, 2023, around 9 pm near Claybank Hospital.
In the second incident, Simbarashe Bhobho (32) of Chigoyo Village under Chief Magonde in Makonde allegedly raped a woman. The taxi driver ran out of fuel in a bushy area between Bomba Business Centre and Gokwe Centre.
The first woman boarded a taxi at the Roman Catholic Church Cathedral bus stop with four men on board. Upon reaching the Claybank Hospital, two men in the vehicle’s boot jumped into the back seat. One of them struck the woman with an iron bar on the forehead.
The men then went on to rob her of valuables worth US$200 before stripping and pushing her outside the speeding vehicle. She walked naked to Gweru Provincial Hospital, where she got clothes and medical attention.
The second incident also happened on Sunday. Mahoko said the woman (22) boarded Bhodho’s taxi vehicle registration number AEP 3726 at Bomba Business Centre going to Gokwe Centre.
Along the way, the vehicle developed a complication. As the two were waiting for help, Bhodho allegedly raped the woman. He ran away and left his particulars.
The woman reported the matter, and the Police towed the vehicle to Gokwe Police Station.