Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A police traffic officer lost his right ear after being assaulted and kidnapped by a Kombi driver and his conductor in Rhodesville, Harare on Sunday.
Constable Shadreck Jongwe, 36, was ferried to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.
The perpetrators, 35-year-old Shepherd Kazingizi and 29-year-old Takudzwa Pachavo, both residents of Ruwa, allegedly ignored police orders and forcibly kidnapped Constable Jongwe heading towards Eastlea from Harare Central Business District.
Cst Jongwe, alongside Constable Chinhamo, was on duty enforcing traffic laws when they stopped Kazingizi for picking up passengers at an undesignated point.
Kazingizi was operating a white Toyota Hiace (registration AGJ 9866) when Jongwe decided to escort the vehicle to the Roadport police post to ensure the driver paid a fine.
Meanwhile, Chinhamo remained at the intersection to maintain order.
Defying the officers’ instructions, Kazingizi allegedly drove away with Jongwe still inside the vehicle, heading east on Robert Mugabe Way.
During this terrifying ordeal, Takudzwa was reported to have assaulted Jongwe with a series of blows, using both open hands and clenched fists.
In a brutal act, one of the assailants bit Jongwe on his right ear before they abandoned him along Robert Mugabe Avenue, near Rhodesville.
Shepherd and Takudzwa were apprehended thereafter following the intervention of Melisa Manon’ore, the vehicle’s owner.
A conductor based at the Simon Muzenda Bus Terminus, who identified himself only as Nyamudzanga, expressed concern over the impact of such violence on their business.
“I suspect they were under the influence,” Nyamudzanga commented. “You never win a battle with the police. Their actions are reckless and will only escalate tensions between law enforcers and Kombi drivers.”
