Harare Correspondent
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
A police officer tragically lost his life on Monday after being accidentally struck by the trailer of a haulage truck that failed to stop at a police roadblock along Mazowe-Centenary Road in Mvurwi.
The incident occurred around 5:50 PM at the 42 km peg of the road.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the unfortunate event via their official X handle, stating,
“The police officer was conducting roadblock duties when a Freightliner Columbia truck traveling towards Mazowe with no passengers on board evaded the checkpoint and hit him on the head with the trailer.”
The statement further detailed that the truck subsequently collided with a stationary Nissan X-Trail vehicle at the roadblock.
“The police officer sustained head injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mvurwi Hospital,” added the ZRP.
While the ZRP did not disclose the name of the officer involved, other media sources identified him as Assistant Inspector Phillimon Hweru, aged 45. The driver of the truck has been named as Tarcisio Chiutsi, 50.
This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of police officers at roadblocks. It is not the first time such a situation has occurred; last year on New Year’s Eve, a female police officer died at the 51-kilometer peg along Harare-Mutare Road when a passing haulage truck accidentally dislodged a trailer wheel that struck her as she stood by the road.
The ZRP has expressed condolences and emphasized the need for increased safety measures to protect officers conducting roadblock duties.
The loss of Assistant Inspector Hweru is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement personnel while serving and protecting the community.
Zim GBC News