Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A HARARE man (33) nearly caused a tragedy on the Harare-Mutare Highway last Monday after allegedly grabbing the steering wheel of a moving Mutare-bound Trip Trans bus, forcing it to veer off the road and placing dozens of passengers at risk.
Munyaradzi Mutede, of Glen View 3, Harare, was arrested at the scene, and subsequently convicted by Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe for interfering with a driver without reasonable cause.
Mutede was charged with contravening Section 60(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act. He was fined US$300 or, in default, sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.
Mr Edmore Mahlanganise prosecuted. The court heard that Mutede boarded the bus at Mbare Musika and purchased a ticket to Rusape.
While travelling along the Harare-Mutare Highway, he allegedly demanded to be dropped off at the notorious Mufusire uphill point in Headlands, an undesignated stopping area.
When the bus crew refused to comply, citing road safety regulations and company policy, Mutede reportedly became agitated and confronted the driver, Mr Maviza Edison Simba.
In a sudden outburst, he allegedly lunged for the steering wheel, wrestling with the driver for control of the vehicle.
The struggle caused the bus to swerve off the highway, before it eventually came to a halt several metres from the roadway.
Although no fatalities were recorded, some passengers sustained minor injuries during the chaos that followed.
Angry passengers reportedly overpowered Mutede, and assaulted him, before handing him over to the police.
The incident left passengers shaken and highlighted the potentially catastrophic consequences of interfering with the operation of a moving vehicle.
Police described the incident as a serious breach of public transport safety protocols that could have resulted in multiple deaths.
The Road Traffic Act specifically prohibits passengers from interfering with drivers, a provision designed to prevent exactly the kind of loss of control witnessed in this case.
Mutede, who was not represented when he appeared before Mr Mahwe, was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
“On July 1, the accused person boarded a bus at Mbare Musika Bus Terminus, and paid bus fare up to Rusape. On approaching Mufusire Mountain, at the 122km peg along Harare-Mutare Highway, the accused person advised the bus crew that he wanted to drop off. The bus crew refused to stop, stating that there was no bus stop and that he had paid bus fare up to Rusape.
“A misunderstanding arose between the driver and the accused person. The accused person got hold of the steering wheel of the moving bus, causing the bus to veer off the road to the left before it stopped. No one was injured and the bus suffered two broken left windows. The accused acted unlawfully,” said Mr Mahlanganise.
The court’s ruling is expected to serve as a deterrent as authorities push to curb acts of interference that threaten public safety on the highways. Transport operators and regulators have intensified calls for stricter adherence to designated stopping points and for passengers to respect crew instructions to avoid endangering lives.
The Mufusire uphill is targeted by robbers who prey on slow-moving trucks or stationary vehicles, stealing goods worth thousands of dollars.
Several motorists have been robbed there over the years.
A truck driver was robbed last year by gun-wielding men and lost cash and cellphones.
The robbers overtook the slow-moving truck, and parked in front of it, before ordering the driver to stop while pointing a gun at him.
The truck was carrying a load of about 5 000 brick pavers.
Police once laid a coordinated ambush at the uphill leading to the arrest of Luke Muzerengwa, Tapiwa Nyemba, Stanley Chando, Saul Mushonga, Mathew Chakanyuka and Judah Madziro, and were charged on seven counts of theft from motor vehicles.
