Taxi driver tries to kill passenger over fare — Gwabalanda cabbie jailed for brutal assault

What’s in a name…

A Bulawayo taxi driver with a ‘heaven-sent name’ turned a fare dispute into a brutal street sermon that nearly cost a man his life.

Amazing Grace Sibanda (24) of Gwabalanda proved that his name did not match his manners after he was convicted of attempted murder by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court following a savage assault over taxi money.

Instead of grace the victim got bricks.

According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Amazing Grace lost his marbles on 26 October 2025 around 11PM at the corner of Herbert Chitepo Street and 6th Avenue.

He was driving a white Honda Fit when he picked up a 33-year-old man and his two friends. Trouble started when a disagreement over fares erupted.

Rather than drive forward Amazing Grace reversed the situation.

The NPAZ said a dispute arose over taxi fares prompting the offender to drive back to the original pick up point. What waited there was not forgiveness.0

“Upon arrival the offender and two accomplices who are still at large assaulted the victim using a sjambok iron bars and bricks until he fell unconscious,” said the prosecuting authority.

Grace was nowhere to be found.

The court heard how the victim was beaten senseless in full view of the city streets in an attack that could easily have ended in death.

In judgment the court convicted Sibanda of attempted murder and handed him a sentence of 12 months imprisonment of which three months were suspended for five years.

The remaining nine months were suspended on condition that he completes 315 hours of community service. From taxi driver to community cleaner.

For Amazing Grace the hymn has changed. Instead of sweet sounds the court delivered hard lessons. *_-H-Metro_*