Harare – A 30-year-old woman from Ushewokunze endured a harrowing four-day ordeal after being kidnapped from Harare and taken to Mutorashanga, where she was detained and subjected to abuse. The incident, which occurred after she boarded an unregistered taxi known as a ‘mushikashika’, has prompted a police investigation and raised concerns about the safety of commuters using informal transport services.
The victim, whose name is being withheld to protect her privacy, was waiting for public transport along High Glen Road near Glen Norah Police Station last Thursday, intending to travel to her home in Ushewekunze. According to police reports, she boarded a white Honda Fit, a vehicle commonly used as a ‘mushikashika’, after the driver indicated that he was heading towards Ushewekunze.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the kidnapping case. “Police are investigating a kidnapping case where a woman was driven to Mutorashanga from Harare after boarding a Mushikashika vehicle on April 24, 2025,” said Insp Chakanza.
The woman took a seat in the back of the Honda Fit, alongside two other men. It was during this journey that the situation took a sinister turn. One of the men seated next to her produced what appeared to be an injection-like object and allegedly pierced her on the shoulder. The woman immediately lost consciousness, only to regain awareness to find herself in Mutorashanga.
According to Insp Chakanza, “On April 25, 2025, in the early morning, the complainant gained consciousness and realised that she was in a room which was locked from outside and had a toilet inside.”
Desperate for help, the woman shouted, but her cries were met with further abuse. “One of the three accused persons got into the room, closed the complainant’s mouth with his hand and injected the complainant again on the right hand,” Insp Chakanza explained. “After that, the accused person locked the door from outside and went away.” The woman once again lost consciousness.
The following night, on April 26, another of the accused entered the room and offered the woman a “revive drink” and biscuits before leaving. Later that same day, the man who had previously injected her returned, providing her with water to bathe before departing.
The woman remained captive until the night of April 28, when she discovered that the door to her room was unlocked. Seizing the opportunity, she managed to escape from the house and sought help at a nearby homestead.
“She reached a certain homestead and narrated her story to the family who then told the complainant that she was in Mutorashanga,” Insp Chakanza stated. The family, upon hearing her ordeal, contacted the woman’s parents and provided her with money for the bus fare back to Harare.
Upon her return to Harare, the woman was immediately escorted to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for a thorough medical examination.
The police investigation into the kidnapping and abuse is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers associated with using unregistered and unregulated transport services, particularly ‘mushikashika’ vehicles.
While ‘mushikashika’ vehicles often provide a convenient and affordable transport option for many Zimbabweans, particularly in urban areas, they are often associated with reckless driving, overcrowding, and a lack of proper insurance, leaving passengers vulnerable in the event of an accident or, as in this case, criminal activity.
The police are urging members of the public to exercise caution when choosing transport options and to prioritise their safety by using registered and reputable transport services. They are also appealing to anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to come forward and contact their nearest police station.
Follow @MyZimbabweNews
