Two bus touts box each other for clients

bust terminus

TWO members of rival bus companies briefly turned the Kudzanayi Bus Terminus in Gweru into a wrestling ring after engaging in a brawl over customers.

The incident, dubbed “The Clash of the Titans” by touts and vendors at the terminus, happened on Tuesday at about 10 am.

Witnesses told Chronicle that the two, a driver belonging to Gettingson Bus Company, commonly known as Ninja and his opponent, identified only as Shepherd who is a tout-cum conductor with Togwirei Buses, were busy loading their respective buses when a misunderstanding erupted.

They said the two, who are both fairly big and strong men, were loading their respective buses which were going to Masvingo.

“A woman wanted to board the Gettingson bus when Shepherd shouted to her, ‘Do not get into that bus. He further told the woman that the bus was the same that was discovered with a snake inside in Beitbridge a few months ago’,” said a witness who identified himself as Thomas.

Thomas said the “insults” did not go down well with Ninja who immediately challenged Shepherd to a fight.

He said the fight turned out to be a hard punching match that reminded many of boxing legends like Langton “School Boy” Tinago and the late Kilimanjaro (Proud Chinembiri).

“Shepherd hit his head on the bus, resulting in him sustaining a cut on his forehead.

“At one time Ninja lost his balance and fell onto the ground. Shepherd immediately went on top and when he was about to throw punches at Ninja, that is when some traffic police officers who usually operate at the terminus arrived. They pulled the two apart and handed them over to a group of patrolling police officers who took them to the Gweru Central Police Station,” said Thomas.

A man who operates a vegetable stall at the terminus said the two, Ninja and Shepherd, have fought before on two occasions with the fights failing to produce an outright “winner”.

“This is the third time they fought. It appears like they have a long standing grudge which makes it difficult for one to accommodate the other.

“At times they fight over very small issues, giving rise to speculation that the reason they fight has nothing to do with the manner they conduct business when loading their buses,” said the informal trader.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm that we arrested two men at the terminus at about 11 am for public violence. The two men were later released after paying admission of guilty fines at the Gweru Central Police Station for disturbing peace,” he said.