Dispute over taxi fare ends in tragic Death, 30-year-old driver convicted of manslaughter

ZVISHAVANE – A fatal $90 taxi fare dispute in Zvishavane earned a 30-year-old a 5-year jail term for culpable homicide after a stone attack led to the passenger’s fall onto the road, resulting in a tragic death under the wheels of an oncoming truck.

Isheunesu Moyo from village Madhuve, Mberengwa was convicted on his own plea of guilty before Zvishavane Magistrate Court.

The court proved that on May 23, 2021, the accused was driving his private taxi, a Toyota Funcargo when he picked up the now deceased along Zvishavane-Mbalabala road,bound for Number 1 bus stop.

The accused taxi driver charged the deceased passenger a fare of $90 for the journey.

Upon arriving at his destination, the deceased refused to pay the agreed-upon fare of $90, leading to a heated dispute.

Following the dispute, the accused failed to release the deceased at Number 1 bus stop and proceeded to drive to the taxi rank on Goddard Road adjacent to Pick and Pay Supermarket in Zvishavane.

In an effort to recover the unpaid fare, Moyo mobilized his network of touts.

However, the dispute turned violent, with Moyo being overpowered and the now-deceased individual fled the scene.

The altercation escalated further when the accused person struck the now-deceased with a stone, hitting him on the head.

As a result, the victim lost balance and fell onto Goddard Road where an oncoming Columbia Freight liner truck tragically hit him.

The victim was certified dead upon arrival at Zvishavane District Hospital.