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David Rwatiringa

Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
JAY Jay Travel and Tours, a bus company, has dragged two touts, popularly known as omagumaguma to court for harassing passengers.

The company, which was represented by its manager Kennard Nziramasanga, applied for a court order to ban David Rwatiringa and Richard Daka from going near its buses.

Nziramasanga told the court that Rwatiringa and Daka who are both from Plumtree were in the habit of insulting, harassing and demanding money from Jay Jay Bus passengers at the Plumtree Border Post.

“Rwatiringa and Daka who are known as omagumaguma have on several occasions interfered with our business at the Plumtree Border Post and we have on several occasions tried to engage them but with no luck.

“They disturb our passengers and show violent behaviour towards our bus crews and this unethical behaviour is disturbing our business operations,” he said.

Nziramasanga said some passengers had stopped boarding their buses to avoid the two.

He said on June 9 one of their buses which plies the Harare-Francistown route was stationed at the border with passengers on board and the two men started demanding money from them.

He said the bus crew realised that the actions of the two men were getting out of hand and the driver asked them to disembark. They refused and an argument ensued between them and the bus driver. He said the misunderstanding ended in a scuffle.

“These two men on some occasions misrepresent themselves as bus crew members and at the end exploit passengers. Our passengers at the end of the day complain about our services. We have also recorded incidents where goods [belonging to] passengers have gone                                   missing and as a company we are held accountable for all of these incidents,” said Nziramasanga.

Rwatiringa and Daka did not deny the allegations.

Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa barred Rwatiringa and Daka from going anywhere less than 100 metres from Jay Jay buses.

He said they should stop harassing passengers or touching their luggage.

Mr Ruvetsa ordered the duo to pay to the company the cost of the suit.