A cross-border trader was brutally assaulted by Zebra Kiss bus crew members in Harare, adding to a growing list of disturbing incidents involving the controversial transport company.
Charlotte Dube, who had boarded the bus in Zambia en route to Harare, became the latest victim of the bus company’s unchecked and violent behavior. Accused of stealing a parcel in what turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, Dube was forcibly taken to the company’s garage in Ardbennie, where she was subjected to a sustained and coordinated beating by at least five men allegedly affiliated with Zebra Kiss.
Eyewitnesses and messages reviewed by Zimbabwe Uncensored suggest that this is not an isolated case. Instead, it reflects a broader pattern of vigilante-style justice and abuse at the hands of Zebra Kiss staff—often with little to no consequence.
Dube’s ordeal began when a fellow passenger reported a missing parcel. Without any formal investigation or proof, a Zebra Kiss conductor, known only as “Pardy,” ordered Dube to remain on the bus after all passengers had disembarked. She was then driven to the company’s private depot, where she says she was attacked with wooden planks by men identified only as Marvin, Munashe, Kuda, Roma, and one calling himself “Baba Keketso.”
“I was beaten for hours,” Dube said. “They didn’t listen to me. They just assumed I was guilty.”
Ironically, the passenger who had raised the alarm later called the bus crew to say her parcel had been found—untouched and unclaimed. But the damage to Dube had already been done.
Despite visible injuries to her back, hands, and buttocks, Dube says the company sought to resolve the matter “amicably,” offering her US$300 and requesting that the police report be withdrawn. Internal messages between Zebra Kiss manager Kudakwashe Mupfukirei and Dube’s husband—seen by Zimbabwe Uncensored—confirm attempts to defuse the case quietly, even as Mupfukirei publicly claimed no official complaint had reached his desk.
“They apologized, yes—but only after trying to silence us,” Dube added. “My name has been dragged through the mud, my business has suffered, and the people who assaulted me are still out there.”
This incident is not the first to raise red flags about Zebra Kiss’s corporate culture. Over the past year, the company has faced multiple allegations, including passenger harassment, crew misconduct, and operational safety violations. In some instances, passengers have reported being threatened or physically intimidated for raising concerns about service delays or missing luggage.
In 2023, social media footage showed Zebra Kiss crew members assaulting a man at a Beitbridge stopover, a case that was never fully investigated despite public outcry. Transport rights groups have repeatedly called for a review of the company’s operating license, citing a “toxic culture of impunity.”
Charlotte Dube says she is pursuing the case through legal channels. The matter has reportedly been filed at Mbare’s Stodart Police Station under RRB 6362618. Police spokespersons were not available for immediate comment.
“This isn’t just about me,” Dube said. “It’s about every woman, every traveler who could fall victim to this kind of abuse. Zebra Kiss cannot be allowed to operate like a private militia.”
As authorities remain silent, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Transport to launch a full inquiry into the company’s operations. Civil society groups are also demanding the suspension of Zebra Kiss’s license pending the outcome of the investigation.
In the meantime, passengers are urged to be vigilant—and to know that the real danger may not just be on the roads, but inside the buses themselves.
