Horror Ride: Zebra Kiss Crew Kidnap and Beat Female Trader Over False Theft Claim
A cross-border trader from Zimbabwe says she was brutally assaulted by Zebra Kiss bus employees in a shocking case of mistaken identity.
Charlotte Dube had boarded the bus in Zambia on her way back home when a fellow passenger reported a missing parcel. Without a proper investigation, the bus crew reportedly singled her out as the thief.
Victim Taken to Garage and Beaten
According to Charlotte, one of the conductors — identified as Pardy — told her to stay on the bus after other passengers disembarked. She was then allegedly driven to the company’s garage in Ardbennie, Harare, where the situation took a violent turn.
There, five men — identified only as Marvin, Munashe, Kuda, Roma, and a man calling himself Baba Keketso — allegedly took turns beating her with wooden planks. Charlotte sustained injuries to her hands, back, and buttocks.
After the assault, the passenger who had initially reported the missing parcel called back to say the item was never stolen. By then, the damage had already been done. Zebra Kiss manager Kudakwashe Mupfukirei later apologised to Charlotte.
When asked for comment by H-Metro, Mupfukirei said the incident had not yet been formally reported to his office. However, messages obtained by the publication showed him engaging in talks with Charlotte’s husband, trying to settle the matter privately.
Charlotte, still recovering from the ordeal, said she had trusted Zebra Kiss with all her trips as a cross-border trader — but not anymore. She accused the company’s staff of being cruel and reckless.
She also alleged that the crew gave her goods to the passenger who had falsely claimed they were stolen. To make matters worse, some passengers took photos of her and posted them online, labelling her a thief, causing damage to her reputation, business, and emotional well-being.
Charlotte further claimed that the bus company tried to pay her off with US$300 in exchange for withdrawing the police report — something she refused.
The manager apologised over the false accusations, and pleaded with my husband that they would refund us with US$300. They wanted us to withdraw the case from the police but they injured me. Some of the passengers went on to take my photographs and posted them on social media accusing me of being a thief. This has affected me physically and emotionally, my reputation, family and my business,” said Charlotte.
Although Harare police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza was unreachable, sources told H-Metro that the case was reported at Mbare Stodart Police Station under RRB 6362618.
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The post Horror Ride: Zebra Kiss Crew Kidnap and Beat Female Trader Over False Theft Claim appeared first on iHarare News.
