Taxi driver murdered in Gweru

A taxi driver was allegedly murdered in cold blood by three suspected car-jackers who had hired him from the Central Business District (CBD) in Gweru to Woodlands suburb.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident which occurred last week.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where a male adult (taxi driver) aged around 25 was fatally stabbed by unknown people who had hired him from the Gweru Central Business District,” he said.

“Information we have is that the taxi driver was hired by these unknown men who wanted to go to Woodlands suburb. The three assailants allegedly attacked him on the way and took his car, leaving him for dead in Claremont Park.

“He later died on admission to Gweru Provincial Hospital.”

Insp Goko said there were a number of cases involving armed robbers that were preying on taxi drivers and long distance travellers at various undesignated pick-up points along major highways.

“We have so far recorded more than 10 cases of people who were robbed by unknown people after boarding their vehicles,” he said.

“We suspect it could be a syndicate or the same people doing this because in all the cases that have been reported, the robbers are using a Honda Fit.

“Most of the victims were picked up at the illegal pick-up points along Gweru-Shurugwi Road, Gweru-Bulawayo road and Gweru-Harare highway.

“Most of the robbers target travellers who are in a hurry and pick them up before robbing them at knife-point,” he said.

Insp Goko appealed to long-distance travellers to use public transport.

Just over a month ago, a young male taxi driver from Mkoba was murdered in similar fashion in the city.