105 Hours Of Community Service For Assaulting Female Passenger
A 26-year-old pirate taxi (mushikashika) driver from Zvishavane has been ordered to perform 105 hours of community service for assaulting one of his female passengers.
Tinashe Mpofu, a Toyota FunCargo driver, residing at 1305 Isaya Park assaulted and damaged items of a female passenger, Miranda Phiri (20), of village 19 Oreti under Chief Mafala.
Mpofu appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga on 15 February facing charges of assault and damage to property.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was then ordered to perform 105 hours of community service at Gresham Primary School and failure to do so will result in him being sentenced to three months in prison.
Mpofu was also ordered to pay ZWL$64 400 for the damaged property which include a laptop and a cellphone.
Failure to restitute his victim before 30 March 2022 will result in Mpofu being imprisoned for four months.
Prosecutor Isheanesu Mashayanye told the court that on 8 February 2022 at around 1630 hours, Phiri boarded a white FunCargo driven by Mpofu on her way back home.
Phiri intended to be dropped at Madata bus stop before Dadaya turnoff along Zvishavane-Mbalabala Road.
When she saw that the driver had passed her station, she reminded him but he told her that he would drop her where he wanted.
It was further alleged that Mpofu then stopped the car and ordered Phiri to disembark.
Phiri however protested, saying she could go not back on foot because of the heavy luggage she was carrying.
The accused reportedly pulled Phiri by her hair forcing her out of the car and threw her luggage on the ground and demanded his money.
Mpofu is alleged to have twisted Phiri’s fingers, slapped her once on the left cheek before she fell down.
He allegedly started kicking her several times on her ribs, stomach and lower abdomen and stepped on Phiri’s cellphone several times until it ceased to function.
Mpofu also stepped on Phiri’s plastic bag with groceries several times and almost damaged all the groceries.
He also hit her three times with open fists on the back of her head and she fell down.
Mpofu was restrained by other passengers from reserving his car into Phiri, intending to kill her.
