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Midlands Reporter
A commuter omnibus driver allegedly assaulted a passenger on board his vehicle for challenging him to increase speed. Jonathan Maposa of Mkoba Village 16, appeared before Gweru magistrate Mildred Matuvi to answer a charge of assault.  He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded out of custody to today for continuation of trial.

It is the state’s case that on April 10 this year and around 3PM, the complainant Richard Muchena of Mkoba Village 9, boarded a commuter omnibus which was being driven by Maposa.

The court heard that the kombi was travelling from Mkoba to the city centre.
It is further alleged that when the complainant was now seated and the kombi on its way, he started complaining about speed. He pointed out that the vehicle was travelling at a slow speed.

Maposa refused to increase speed arguing that he did not have much fuel and was afraid that they would run out of it if he increased speed.
Prosecuting, Peason Muringani told the court that the complainant insisted that he wanted to be dropped before getting to town and he wanted to complete the rest of his journey on foot.

The kombi stopped and the complainant alighted and went to Maposa’s side of the vehicle to tell him that his action of refusing to increase speed was wrong. Maposa is said to have alighted from the kombi and hit Muchena twice with clenched fists on the left eye.
The court was told that the complainant sustained a cut above the eye.

He then made a report to the police leading to the arrest of Maposa.