By Crime and Courts Reporter- A senior police officer based in Mvurwi tragically lost his life after being struck by a haulage truck at a roadblock, while another officer sustained injuries in a separate incident.
Both cases have reignited public anger over the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) heavy-handed tactics.
The fatal accident occurred on December 30 along the Mazowe-Centenary Road.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, ZRP spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying:
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on 30/12/24 at around 1750 hours at the 42 km peg along Mazowe-Centenary Road, Mvurwi, in which a police officer was killed. The officer was conducting roadblock duties when a Freightliner Columbia truck, traveling towards Mazowe, evaded the checkpoint and hit him on the head with the trailer. The truck then collided with a stationary Nissan X-Trail vehicle. The officer was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mvurwi Hospital.”
In a separate incident on Monday, another officer was injured while directing traffic in Masvingo near the Chevron Hotel.
The officer sustained a swollen heel after being struck by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene.
The incidents have drawn attention to the widespread perception of police misconduct at roadblocks.
Motorists often accuse ZRP officers of harassment, extortion, and excessive force.
Common complaints include officers snatching car keys or confiscating driver’s licenses to coerce bribes for fabricated or trivial offenses.
These actions have fueled public resentment, with many viewing the police as adversaries rather than protectors.
Officers have also endangered public safety by physically confronting kombi (commuter omnibus) drivers, risking harm to passengers.
Outgoing Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, who succeeded Augustine Chihuri after the November 2017 coup, admitted early in his tenure that the police had alienated the public.
He apologised to the nation and pledged to professionalise the force—a promise many believe remains unfulfilled.