Alleged rank brawler Mupfumi granted bail for trea...

Alleged rank brawler Mupfumi granted bail for treatment in Dubai

Philemon Jambaya

Isau Mupfumi, bus operator and alleged instigator of violent clashes at Mutare bus ranks, was granted bail yesterday despite facing serious charges.

Mupfumi’s upcoming medical operation in Dubai appears to have influenced the court’s decision.

Mupfumi was among 50 individuals arrested over the weekend following a series of brutal confrontation between rival bus company touts. These clashes raised fears of a potential escalation into full-blown “taxi wars” similar to those plaguing South Africa.

Mutare provincial magistrate, Tendai Mahwe granted Mupfumi US$1 000 bail, allowing him to return home under strict conditions. These include maintaining his current residence, refraining from interfering with witnesses or the investigation, and reporting weekly to the Mutare ZRP CID.

Mupfumi’s lawyer, Victor Chinzamba, presented his client’s hypertension condition and a scheduled medical operation in Dubai on Saturday as grounds for bail. The State, led by Mr. Tirivanhu Mutyasira, did not contest the bail request for Mupfumi.

The swift action taken by police in apprehending all suspects, regardless of social standing, has been met with widespread praise. Commentators see this as a crucial step in preventing the kind of deadly violence associated with taxi wars in other countries.

Prosecutors allege that the violence began last week when Mupfumi’s senior rank marshal, Farai Chitsa, was attacked by rival marshals.

In retaliation, Mupfumi allegedly ordered his own marshals to launch a counter-offensive.

On Wednesday, May 23rd, a group of Mupfumi’s marshals, armed with machetes, sjamboks, sticks, and knives, descended upon the Harare Old Rank bus terminal in Mutare using two company commuter omnibuses. An attack on marshals from competing bus companies ensued.

The State identified the vehicles involved as a Toyota Hiace (AFB2518) driven by Michael Chinogara and a Toyota Quantum belonging to Mupfumi, driven by an employee named Ndemera.

Police intervention, including warning shots, eventually dispersed the crowd. Seven marshals were apprehended, and weapons were recovered from the commuter omnibus.

The following day, renewed clashes erupted between Mupfumi’s marshals and their counterparts at the Murahwa People’s Green Market in Sakubva. Upon police arrival, the Mupfumi marshals reportedly fled to Mupfumi’s garage, where another 11 were arrested.

The remaining 49 marshals arrested in connection with the violence were denied bail.

The State, represented by one Mutyasira, argued that releasing the suspects posed a risk of witness intimidation and potential disruption of the judicial process. Magistrate Mahwe concurred, citing the severity of the crimes and the potential for a public outcry if bail were granted.