A passenger was shot and killed by police officers in Mwenezi after the vehicle he was in allegedly sped off when waved down near Rutenga along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway on Tuesday.
This area is known for robberies and carjackings.
The deceased, 21-year-old Shadreck Madzore, was sitting at the back of a pick-up truck when he was reportedly hit by two bullets fired from an unmarked Toyota Probox car used by the police.
After a high-speed chase, both vehicles stopped at the tollgate, where police discovered that Madzore had been shot dead.
The deceased’s relatives told NewsDay that police arrested the truck driver and another passenger, accusing them of being robbers. However, they were later released without any charges.
Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, the spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Masvingo Province, said he had not yet received the report at the time of writing.
Samson Madzore, the deceased’s uncle, accused the police of overreacting and misusing their firearms. He said:
<blockquote>
The car which is mine had a puncture at that detour. We heard that soon after replacing the wheel, they (the driver and his passengers) proceeded, but were flagged by a Toyota Probox car without plates.
Fearing robbers, they did not stop. My driver sped off with the other car in hot pursuit.
The occupants of the car opened fire and hit Shadreck twice and that is the statement made to police in our presence.
</blockquote>
Reports say that last week, a haulage truck driver was assaulted and robbed of cash and valuables in the same area.
Given this recent incident, it’s possible that the driver of the vehicle in which Shadreck Madzore was a passenger feared the police vehicle might belong to armed robbers since it was unmarked and had no number plates.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200039708/mwenezi-police-gun-down-man-in-cold-blood">NewsDay</a>

Pindula News

In Mwenezi, police shot and killed a passenger in a speeding vehicle. The area is known for robberies. The victim, Shadreck Madzore, was hit by bullets fired from an unmarked police car. The police arrested the truck driver and another passenger but later released them. The deceased's uncle accused the police of overreacting. Last week, a truck driver was robbed in the same area. The driver may have feared the police car was robbers since it was unmarked. This incident may have been a mistake.

Police Officers In Unmarked Car Open Fire At Vehicle, Killing Passenger In Mwenezi

<h2>Statement by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on robbery cases involving theft of motor vehicles by suspects posing as genuine transport seekers.</h2>
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with robbery cases where some motorists are falling prey to criminals posing as genuine transport seekers across the country.
Some of the motorists are losing vehicles to criminals after leaving vehicles unattended with keys on the ignition ports.
On 4th November 2022 at around 1900 hours, a 34-year-old man lost a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFT 2657, a DSTV decoder, 13 cellphones, seven (07) power banks and personal documents, to two unknown male suspects after he had offered them a lift at Corner Chinhoyi Street and Robert Mugabe Road, Harare, on the pretext that they were going to Marimba, Harare.
Along the way, at Rugare traffic lights, the suspects attacked the complainant and stole his valuables and the vehicle. They then made a U-turn and later dumped the complainant in Msasa.
On 5th November 2022 at about 2015 hours, a 27-year-old man offered a lift to two unknown male suspects who purported to be going to Chinhoyi at Westgate in Harare.
Upon arrival at the 113 km peg along Harare-Chirundu Road, the suspects asked to be dropped off.
They then attacked the complainant and stole US$3 600-00 cash and a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFY 4575.
On 6th November 2022 at around 0340 hours, a 22-year-old Bulawayo taxi driver was hired by two unknown suspects from Bulawayo Central Business District to Nhliziyo Shopping Centre, Entumbane.
On arrival at the shopping centre, the suspects ordered the complainant to park at a certain house.
They then attacked the complainant and robbed him of a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFD 8145, a cellphone and US$100 cash.
On 6th November 2022 at around 0200 hours, a 45-year-old man had an altercation with five men who were in a BMW car at Cosmopolitan Race Course, Ascot, Bulawayo.
He then parked his Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFO 5439 and charged towards the BMW vehicle leaving his car keys on the ignition port.
An unknown suspect came and stole the car and drove off while the complainant was confronting the five men in a BMW vehicle.
In another case, Police are investigating a case of theft of a motor vehicle that occurred on 4th November 2022 at a car park in Warren Park, Harare, where a woman (30) had left a Toyota Wish vehicle registration number AEL 2656 for safekeeping. The complainant came back the next morning and found the car missing.
Meanwhile, on 5th November 2022, Police in Chinhoyi arrested Jealous Thomas Musariri (43) in connection with two counts of murder that occurred at Riverside, Chinhoyi on 29th September 2022.
The suspect allegedly stabbed Tinashe Nyanguwo (36) and Joshua Kadungure (37) to death, after a misunderstanding.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges motorists to be alert and stop giving lifts to strangers in their vehicles no matter the circumstances or situation.
</blockquote>

Police Brutality Latest News

Latest Jobs