Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A SAUERSTOWN kombi driver escaped death by a whisker on Wednesday when pirate taxi rank marshals attacked him, took $500 and a Nokia E63 cellphone after accusing him of disturbing them from doing their work.
Canaan Madyare, 33, was unconscious for nearly 30 minutes after four illegal rank marshals only identified as Tinashe, Shuto and Mhofu and another who was not named punched him.
Madyare was admitted to Mpilo Hospital.
A witness, Joel Sibanda said Madyare and other kombi operators were assisting Bulawayo City Council officials in apprehending pirate taxi drivers when they were attacked by the gang.
“After 10 pirate taxis were clamped by City Council, one of the drivers phoned Tinashe and his crew. Tinashe managed to grab Canaan while other operators fled. Canaan was removed by Tinashe from driver’s seat and they started assaulting him until he lost consciousness” said Sibanda
He added that the gang left after he had collapsed.
A kombi driver who declined to be named for fear of victimisation said Tinashe wanted to kill Canaan accusing him of calling City Council police officers and disrupting their business.
“Tinashe was swearing saying that he wanted to kill Canaan and the chairman of Sauerstown route for calling municipal police. He failed to get hold of the chairman and threatened to go to his house. Pirate taxi drivers were ululating, singing and dancing as Canaan was being assaulted,” said the driver.
Officer commanding Bulawayo Traffic Chief Superintendent Maxwell Chikunguru could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.