Harare Motorist Arrested for Kidnapping City Parking Officers, Inciting Public Violence.

A 23-year-old Harare motorist, Gift Nyadzawo, appeared before magistrate Patricia Kamwanda on Tuesday facing charges of kidnapping two City Parking officers and inciting public violence.

Nyadzawo, who is accused of diverting from a designated route and allegedly encouraging an attack on the officials, was remanded in custody with a bail ruling set for Wednesday.

The incident reportedly occurred on September 12, when City Parking officers arrested Nyadzawo for parking in a prohibited area. Instead of following the officers’ orders to drive to the Harare City Council’s Central Stores, Nyadzawo is alleged to have driven towards Mbare, where he incited vendors and touts to assault the officials.

In a separate case, Kelvin Mhasi, a 26-year-old commuter omnibus driver, also appeared before the same court on charges of culpable homicide. Mhasi was accused of negligently driving his vehicle, a Toyota Hiace, along Fife Avenue on September 12, resulting in a pedestrian being fatally hit while crossing the road. The State opposed Mhasi’s bail due to the seriousness of the charges, with a ruling expected on Wednesday.