Girls High accident: Fugitive killer kombi driver nabbed in SA
By Freeman Razemba
The driver of a commuter omnibus who reportedly ran over and killed Girls High School Form Four pupil Jocelyn Gomba (17) and seriously injured Odwell Mabanga (35) has been arrested in Polokwane, South Africa.
Gomba died on the spot, while Mabanga sustained spinal injuries and has since been discharged from hospital, contrary to reports that he died a day later at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The two were run over by a kombi that was being driven by Wadzanayi Mabika (41) at an illegal rank near the entrance of Harare Girls High School.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed Mabika’s arrest.
“The accident occurred on May 23 and on May 25, he (Mabika) fled to South Africa after being assisted by two people to escape to evade arrest,” she said.
The two — Jane Ngano (29) and a Callisto (43) — have since been arrested and were yesterday assisting police with investigations at Harare Central Police Station.
Mabika is also detained at the police station.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said intensive investigations led to the arrest of Mabika in Polokwane on Sunday.
She said Mabika was facing five counts, which are culpable homicide, failure to stop after an accident, failure to report an accident within 24 hours, failure to ascertain if any person is injured or killed after an accident, failure to render assistance after an accident and driving in a reckless manner.
Police recently questioned the owner of the kombi, Albert Guyo of Southlea Park in Harare South and he gave them information that Mabika of Plot 2, Nyabira, was the driver.
They discovered that Mabika had one year four months driving experience after obtaining his licence in 2015.
The Herald understands that action against the employer will be taken for employing someone who did not have the mandatory five years experience as required by the Road Traffic Act.
Last week, Harare City Council and Queen Elizabeth and Harare Girls high schools, stung by the death of Jocelyn, called for the removal of an illegal pick-up point at the corner of Park Lane and Leopold Takawira Street.
Meanwhile, police have arrested two bogus policemen believed to have been targeting kombis and taxis in the city.
Ngonidzashe Mundoringisa (22) of Kuwadzana 7 and Simon Sanyanga (40) of Retreat Farm in Waterfalls were arrested on Sunday by a senior police officer at a salon in the city and were found in possession of a police identity card belonging to Constable Simon Ruza.
They were arrested after they had “arrested” a taxi driver in the city. The Herald
