By Lloyd Takawira
Beitbridge – Zimbabweans across the country reacted to the sentencing of rowdy touts and commended the Zimbabwe Republic Police for arresting and the subsequent sentencing of the four shameless touts who were filmed in Beitbridge Dilubadzimu Rank , physically manhandling and harassing a defenseless woman who screamed much to the enjoyment of the unremorseful touts.
The four touts who handed themselves to the police later this week were sentenced to an effective 6 months jail term.
The four, Maxwell Kamuda (42), Lazarus Chingova (44), Micheal Mlambo (35) and Worry Muranda (age not given) were filmed while harrasing an elderly woman at Dilubadzimu Rank in the boarder town of Beitbridge .
The armature video drew widespread condemnation and outcry over the conduct of touts.
The quartet, who upon being arrested where charged with public nuisance, were convicted on their own plea of guilty by Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Mr Toyindepi Zhou.
They were each left with an effective six months to serve after the court conditionally suspended four months of their initial 10 months sentences. Prosecuting, Mr Ronald Mugwagwa said charges against the four arose on March 23.
The accused persons, he said, harassed an elderly female traveller at Dulivhadzimu long distance bus terminus and they were caught on camera.
Responding to the sentencing , Passanger Association of Zimbabwe Mr Tafadzwa Goliati had this to say , ” The effective 6 months jailing of the touts is a strong statement to touts that harass passengers. We applaud the conviction . It is our strong view that bus operators are also guilty of the same charge hence they must also face the law . They are the ones who employ those rowdy touts , they are the ones who shield them from facing the full wrath of the law . No one should be afraid to travel in this country because of some rowdy people like as if we do not have laws”.
Many like Mukoma Masimba speaking to Bustop TV News said he welcomed the sentencing however saying it was a bit lenient.
“Tinotenda kumapurisa e Zimbabwe Republic Police nekusunga nharadada idzo . Mutongo wavo mudiki asi , ndaifunga makore mashanu anoita“.
Another outraged Beitbridge resident, Mercy Chaniwa speaking to this reporter had this to say , ” As a woman ,l don’t take harassments of women lightly , hence the sentencing of the touts is welcome. Imagine how humiliating it is for our elderly to br harrassed in that way . The first time l watched that video l cried . It really disturbed me just thinking how can someone does that to a mother “.
Many on social media , said while the sentencing is commendable, there is need for government to flush out touts.
In a statement , the ZRP applauded all Zimbabweans for the co-operation & concern over the conduct of the touts.
“The public is urged to report all incidents of harassment by touts taking note of the location, date, time & the name of the bus company involved. #notouting& harassment of women”.
There has been public condemnation on the conduct of touts who have became the perennial ” Denise the manaces” at ranks and bus terminuses.
Over the years, government has been blamed for it’s slow reaction touts as they wantonly harrass passengers across the country.
