What began as an ordinary ride home ended in a terrifying ordeal for actor and filmmaker Trueman Chikukwa, who said he was beaten, robbed at gunpoint and left with a swollen face after an InDrive trip turned into what police are now investigating as a violent robbery.
The Zimbabwean actor, known for producing and starring in the cultural film Rudo Ndimambo, was quoted by myzimbabwe.co.zw as saying he and his wife had booked an InDrive vehicle to take them to their home.
Instead of reaching their destination safely, they found themselves at the mercy of armed attackers after a disagreement over payment. Chikukwa said before the journey, he informed the driver, identified on the app as Courage, that he and his wife only had a US$20 note and no smaller denominations. 
That disclosure appeared to irritate the driver.
“He started accusing us of not telling him before we entered the car,” Chikukwa said.
Although the couple handed over the US$20, the driver allegedly refused to give them their change. Moments later, matters took an even more disturbing turn.
According to Chikukwa, the driver abandoned the expected route, insisting he was taking “the easiest way.” During the journey, he also made a phone call, telling someone on the other end that he would “be there soon,” a conversation that immediately heightened the couple’s fears.
Their worst suspicions were realised when the vehicle pulled up outside a house instead of their destination. A woman and another man emerged from the property. The man was carrying a firearm.
“They forced us out of the car,” Chikukwa said.
In the confusion that followed, his wife managed to escape with their bag, which contained their mobile phones. Chikukwa was not as fortunate. He said he was repeatedly beaten before the attackers stole his wallet.
“They beat me on the head. I think they believed we had more money,” he said.
Photographs taken after the attack showed the filmmaker with visible facial injuries.
Fortunately, Chikukwa had taken a screenshot of the vehicle’s details before starting the trip, a precaution he believes could prove vital in helping investigators identify those responsible. The case has since been reported to the police.
The attack reflects concerns about passenger safety on Zimbabwe’s ride-hailing platforms, particularly InDrive, which, according to myzimbabwe.co.zw, has featured in a string of violent crime reports involving both passengers and drivers.
Earlier in the year, a 30-year-old InDrive driver and university graduate was gruesomely murdered in Harare by a friend.
In another incident, an InDrive driver in Harare was pepper-sprayed before his employer’s vehicle was stolen in a violent carjacking. A Bulawayo driver was also reportedly attacked and robbed at knifepoint after picking up a passenger.
Passengers have not been spared either. Police have investigated allegations involving drivers accused of collaborating with armed robbers, while authorities have also warned the public about criminals posing as e-hailing operators to target unsuspecting commuters.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has launched investigations into several cases linked to ride-hailing services, with periodic crackdowns on illegally operating vehicles and drivers in Harare. Officials have repeatedly urged passengers to book rides only through official applications so that journeys can be electronically traced if incidents occur.
The growing number of attacks has also fuelled debate on social media, where users have complained about fake driver profiles, off-app trips, reckless driving and weak safety controls.
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