Driver accused of ‘kidnapping’ 25 David Livingston...

Driver accused of ‘kidnapping’ 25 David Livingstone School ECD learners dies

Zim Now Writer

The driver of a kombi, who allegedly kidnapped 25 pupils from David Livingstone Primary School in Harare on 20 January and dumped them in Macheke, has died.

It is understood that Samuel Honde, who was out on bail, died this morning suffering a stroke weeks ago.

Honde reportedly experienced a mental lapse, which resulted in him driving the minibus to Macheke, Mashonaland East, instead of Kuwadzana in Harare.

Following his arrest in January, Harare magistrate Letwin Rwodzi ordered that a mental examination be conducted on him, directing the State to proceed in terms of Section 26 of the Mental Health Act.

According to police, Honde was contracted by various parents, since 2016, to ferry learners to and from David Livingstone Primary School.

On the day that the alleged kidnapping occurred, Honde - who stayed at a Seventh-Day Adventist church in Kuwadzana, Harare, after picking up the 25 learners (14 girls and 11 boys) at the school - drove towards Macheke instead of driving the learners to their respective homes in Kuwadzana and surrounding areas.

Other motorists spotted he stationary kombi and reported to the police after seeing the minors crying in the Nissan Caravan.

The vehicle had stopped after running out of fuel.

Honde was then arrested and taken to Macheke Police Station.

The children were reunited with their parents after being attended to at Marondera Provincial Hospital.

The late Honde suffered a stroke while he was still on remand, and was undergoing various medical tests.

Unfortunately, Pindula News reported, he did not recover from the stroke and died this morning at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.