High speed chase ensues after Kombi crew kidnaps girl (6)

HARARE – A commuter omnibus crew was last Friday involved in a high speed chase with motorists after allegedly kidnapping a six-year-old girl in Harare’s Kuwadzana 5 suburb.

The chase started in Kuwadzana and ended in Glen View as two Mercedes Benz vehicles chased after the kombi crew, but failed to apprehend them. The chase lasted for about three hours. Police confirmed that they had received a report and investigations are still in progress.

Although the details were still sketchy yesterday, the kombi crew is alleged to have kidnapped the girl, resulting in motorists giving chase after residents had called for help.

The fate of the girl is not yet known. The chase went on until they reached Glen View 1 suburb, where with the help of another kombi crew, which blocked the two Mercedes Benz vehicles, the alleged kidnappers managed to speed off along Amalinda Road.

It is alleged that during the chase, the kombi crew phoned their colleagues to rescue them. Police say one of the kombis that was called and allegedly helped the rogue crew has since been identified as belonging to a transport company called Busy.Com, which plies the City-Glen View route.

According to Glen View residents, some kombi crews are known for criminal activities and several people have lost their money while boarding some of them. Some residents alleged that rogue kombi crews connive with criminals who also board pretending to be genuine passengers.

Some of the residents alleged that these criminals use ‘juju’ when stealing from people. Several people have lost cash and cellphones. Reports have been made to the police and some of the cases have not been dealt with as these kombis still ply various routes in the city.

For the past few months, several people lost their cash, cellphones and laptops among other valuables after being given lifts by kombi crews who are conniving with criminals in and around the city.

In May, police arrested 10 suspected armed robbers allegedly targeting travellers and motorists along the country’s highways. The suspects were arrested in separate incidents in Chinhoyi and Murehwa. Some of these criminals operate using kombis.