Taxi driver burnt to death

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
A 23-year-old pirate taxi driver in Karoi was recently found burnt to death in his vehicle with his hands tied with a wire in a gruesome case of suspected murder. Liberty Mpanse of Chikangwe Township, Karoi, was found in his burnt Toyota Fun Cargo vehicle on Wednesday last week by a passer-by. He had been reported missing two days before when he was reportedly hired by as yet unknown men.

The vehicle and Mpanse’s charred remains were found in a bushy area near the Chidzuwi Road turn-off, a few metres from Magunje Road in Karoi.

Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident.

“We are treating this case as murder due to the circumstances,” he said. “However, we appeal to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to come for- ward.”

Insp Mabgweazara said there were no leads so far, adding that investigations were in progress.

A source close to the incident said: “The shell of the vehicle was discovered by a passer-by on a dirt road normally used by Zesa technicians on their way to installations and the passerby reported the matter to the police”.

The owner of the vehicle that was being driven by Mpanse managed to identify it.

Mpanse’s body was identified by his wife who recognised his underwear which was spared during the inferno.

The charred remains were taken to Karoi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

Toyota Fun Cargo and Nissan Cube vehicles constitute the majority of pirate taxis in Karoi and are commonly known as “Tsviriyo” in local street lingo.