The Sunday News
THE pirate taxi driver, who last week caused the death of a traffic police officer in the city centre, has been arrested and was yesterday taken for indications at the scene of the incident.
The driver, Farai Zimunya, has been on the run since Wednesday but according to sources, was arrested last Friday while attempting to flee the country.
Zimunya, while fleeing arrest, reportedly dragged Sergeant Godsave Chingwe for more than 100 metres. Sgt Chingwe was clinging to the door of the car before being thrown onto the tarmac when Zimunya made a sharp turn while speeding off.
Sgt Chingwe died from head and chest injuries he sustained during the incident.
Contacted for comment, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba yesterday said he had not yet been briefed on the arrest but noted that the arrest showed the police’s commitment to bringing criminals to book.
“I am currently in Harare, so I haven’t yet been briefed on this arrest but if it’s true it is a good development as it shows the effectiveness of the police,” said Snr Asst Comm Mutamba.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba was unavailable for comment as her mobile phone was not reachable.
However, when Sunday News went to the scene of the crime at the corner of George Silundika Street and 12th Avenue, the lanky and bearded Zimunya was showing heavily armed police officers how he drove off with Sgt Chingwe hanging precariously on the door.
The scene also attracted a huge crowd comprising members of the public and pirate taxi operators who gathered to witness the indications.
A source close to the investigations revealed that the police had unleashed a crack unit to investigate and bring the driver to book, which eventually led to Zimunya’s arrest.
“Being a pirate taxi driver, the investigating officers mainly targeted other taxi and kombi operators, who assisted a lot in bringing Zimunya to book. The fact that he had caused the death of a police officer made this a special interest case and the police was under pressure to solve it as a matter of urgency,” said a source who declined to be named.
According to witnesses, the taxi driver was driving a Toyota Corolla, when Sgt Chingwe, in police uniform, attempted to board the car and arrest him before he sped off with the police officer with one foot in the car forcing him to cling to the door for over 100 metres.
