Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A CREW member of a pirate taxi (mushikashika) who indecently assaulted a female passenger by caressing her as she was asking for her change has been jailed for the offence.
Richard Musundura (27) of Vengere, Rusape, was convicted of indecent assault by Rusape magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe for fondling and caressing a 22-year-old woman who had boarded a taxi that was being driven by Musundura’s unnamed friend.
Musundura, who was not legally represented, did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mr Mahwe fined him US$105 or he faces 10 days’ imprisonment.
Prosecutor Ms Rutendo Nyamwanza told the court that Musundura and his colleague did not give the woman her change and drove past her destination, quarrelling with her.
When the woman was alone with the taxi crew, Musundura then started to indecently assault her.
“On February 27, 2026, at around 7pm, the complainant knocked off duty at her workplace and embarked in the unregistered taxi where Musundura was. She sat in the front seat while Musundura’s friend was the driver,” she said.
“Upon reaching her destination, the complainant paid US$1 as transport fare to the driver and requested her change of ZiG20.
“The driver failed to give change to the complainant and they started to have an argument about the matter and other passengers disembarked from the vehicle. Musundura then took the steering wheel and drove the vehicle up to the Hide Out Bar Complex
“Musundura and his friend disembarked from the vehicle, leaving the complainant alone in the vehicle. Musundura’s friend drove the motor vehicle, proceeding to UVE location.
“Musundura moved closer to the complainant and hugged her with one hand, whilst the other hand was caressing the complainant’s breasts. The complainant tried to push Musundura away, but he overpowered her and continued to caress her breasts. She started crying, and he stopped,” she said.
They drove the woman to Musundura’s friend’s house, where they locked her inside the car and she was saved by the wife of Musundura’s friend, who unlocked the vehicle for the woman to leave.
“Musundura and his friend reached their home and disembarked from the motor vehicle, and Musundura opened the gate for his friend.
“Musundura drove the motor vehicle and parked it in the yard and locked the vehicle’s doors. The wife of Musundura’s friend approached the complainant and instructed her to unlock and open the motor vehicle from inside, but she failed.
“The accused’s friend was called by his wife and opened the door. The complainant disembarked from the vehicle, and the wife of the accused’s friend gave her US$1 so that she could pay for transport, and she accompanied her to the main road. The complainant boarded a taxi and proceeded to Rusape Central Police station to make a report, leading to the arrest of the accused person,” she told the court.
