Zebra Kiss Crew Abducts, Beats Woman Over False ...

Zebra Kiss Crew Abducts, Beats Woman Over False Theft Claim

Zim Now Writer

A female cross-border trader was brutally assaulted by a Zebra Kiss bus crew after being wrongly accused of theft during a trip from Zambia to Zimbabwe. The incident has sparked outrage over the conduct of the popular bus company’s employees.

Charlotte Dube, who frequently travels for business, boarded a Zebra Kiss bus in Zambia on her way back to Zimbabwe. During the journey, a fellow passenger reported a missing parcel. Without evidence, the bus crew singled out Charlotte as the suspect.

One of the conductors, identified as Pardy, allegedly instructed Charlotte to stay on the bus when it arrived in Harare. Instead of being released, she was forcibly taken to the company’s garage in Ardbennie, where five men identified only as Marvin, Munashe, Kuda, Roma, and a man who called himself Baba Keketso took turns assaulting her with wooden planks.

Charlotte sustained injuries to her back, hands, and buttocks during the prolonged beating. Her belongings were also confiscated and handed over to the passenger who had initially claimed her parcel was missing.

However, after the assault, the same passenger contacted the crew to say that her parcel had not been stolen after all. Zebra Kiss management, through its manager Kudakwashe Mupfukirei, later issued an apology to Charlotte.

Despite this, Mupfukirei denied receiving any formal report of the incident when contacted by media. Contradictory evidence, however, shows messages between him and Charlotte’s husband discussing an out-of-court settlement. The company allegedly offered a compensation of US$300 and urged the couple to withdraw the police case.

“I’ve always trusted Zebra Kiss for my travel, but this has completely shattered that trust,” said Charlotte. “Their staff beat me, accused me falsely, took my goods, and even allowed people to take my photos and share them online calling me a thief.”

She added that the ordeal has left her physically and emotionally traumatized, damaging her reputation and impacting her business.

The case has reportedly been filed at Mbare Stodart Police Station under RRB number 6362618. Attempts to reach Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza for comment were unsuccessful.