Man dies after savage attack over 50 cents by ‘mushikashika hwindi’

By Auther Chimbgwa

A Harare man died Thursday, hours after he was viciously attacked by a Honda Fit (mushikashika) conductor following a dispute over ZiG20 (US$0.50) change.

Acting police spokesperson for Harare Province Assistant Inspector Faith Mapisa confirmed the alleged murder incident and identified the suspect as Luckman Kamangile (27), who resides in Eastview Phase 4 in Ruwa.

“On 19 November 2025 at around 5pm, the now deceased, Amos Karumba, boarded a Honda Fit at George, Ruwa going to Walker Mutamba and he paid US$1 as fare to the suspect and demanded ZiG20 as change upon reaching his destination,” Mapisa said in a statement.

“The suspect refused to give him his change and an altercation ensued.”

The stand-off turned into a fight which saw Kumangile assault Karumba several times all over the body with open hands.

Karumba started bleeding from the mouth and the driver drove off with the suspect.

He was later taken to a local clinic by his wife after he continued “bleeding profusely”.

Karumba was treated and discharged on the same evening, allowing him to go home to rest.

However, he continued bleeding from the mouth and succumbed to the injuries in the early hours of Thursday as he slept alone in the bedroom while his wife attended to the couple’s sick child in the dining room.

Officers from Ruwa police station together with detectives from CID Scenes of Crime attended the scene.

“It was observed that the deceased was lying on the floor inside the bedroom beside the bed facing upwards with his tongue protruding from his mouth and there was a lot of blood on the pillow and sofas,” said Mapisa, adding that the body had a laceration on its upper lip.

The body was transported to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for post-mortem.

The suspect was arrested and was set to appear in court facing murder.