Court to rule on VID chief

US$60 bribe from a Munenzwa bus conductor has been set for Monday next week.
Richard Vuta (42) pleaded not guilty to bribery charges when his trial opened before Harare magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini.
The complainant in the matter is Mr Regis Munenzwa.
It is the State’s case that sometime in December last year a Munenzwa bus left Mbare for Kana Mission in Gokwe. The bus was carrying passengers and goods.
It is alleged that Vuta, who was driving a white truck, stopped the bus near TelOne College in Belvedere. Aleck Shoko who was driving the bus complied with Vuta’s orders and stopped. Vuta, who was alone, asked for the bus permit and Shoko’s licence. It is alleged that Shoko and the bus conductor Munyaradzi Tagwara failed to produce the required papers. The court heard that Tagwara produced an expired route permit.
That is when Vuta instructed the duo to drive to Belvedere VID depot. But the duo declined and they got into “talks” with Vuta. The court heard that Vuta drove the bus to the VID depot. It is further alleged that he was offered US$20. The State’s case has it that Vuta declined the money arguing that it was too little. Tagwara increased the offer to US$60. Even after accepting the US$60, Vuta refused to release the bus.
Vuta, it is alleged, stopped the bus crew from transferring passengers and goods to another bus. That is when they phoned their boss Mr Munenzwa who lodged a report with police leading to Vuta’s arrest. – CR.