A Bulawayo traffic policewoman was crushed to death by a speeding motorist at a roadblock in Ilanda suburb over the weekend.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the accident, and identified the deceased as Sergeant Ottilia Magwenya. She was 36.
“This is a culpable homicide case and because police cannot detain a suspect for more than 48 hours, the suspect is being taken to court soon,” Moyo said.
“This is being done to ascertain whether the accident was intentional or it was a mistake.
“The policewoman stopped the car when it was still at a distance and she was not on the driver’s lane.
“The accident was avoidable, but it is amazing how the driver then moved into the policewoman’s lane.
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“This is why the matter is being taken to court like any other culpable homicide cases,” he added.
But witnesses at the scene of the accident accused police of endangering their lives by jumping into the middle of the road whenever motorists approached the roadblock.
The witnesses said the policewoman was not wearing any reflectors and there were no signposts to indicate a roadblock at the spot.
“Motorists often panic when they see a police officer ahead,” said a witness who declined to be named.