Inspector
Tendai Nehwangure had just been transferred from Mt Darwin, where he was in the
operations department, to Centenary as the police officer-in-charge.
This was an
elevation he only enjoyed for about two months. The now deceased Insp
Nehwangure had also just gotten his driver’s licence, which could have been
about five months old.
It is understood
that Centenary police station does not have a vehicle; the officers rely on the
benevolence of motorists for movement. This includes when shuttling between the
courts and the police station, including district investigations.
Similarly,
Mvurwi police station, which is 12 kilometres away from the scene of an
accident which claimed the life of Insp Nehwangure recently, does not have a
vehicle, hence the delay in attending the emergency. On the fateful day, Insp
Nehwangure had contemplated letting his subordinate, Assistant Inspector
Stanley Chimutsa, go to Bindura with other officers.
Little did he
know that he was going to meet his fate on that day at around 2:40pm at the
62km peg along Centenary-Mvurwi Road. Mr Gilbert Nehwangure, brother to the
late Insp Nehwangure said his brother died in the line of duty, striving to let
justice take its course.
Mr Nehwangure
said the family believed that a scuffle could have ensued between Gift
Madzvanya, the murder and rape suspect who was being ferried to Centenary by
Insp Nehwangure for indications, and other officers in the vehicle. Insp
Nehwangure was carrying the suspect using a private vehicle, and the scuffle
could have caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
“If these
officers would have been in a proper police van, maybe this accident would not
have occurred,” said Mr Nehwangure. “Remember, this suspect had beaten up an
old woman and raped her, so indications that the suspect was actually violent
where already there.”
Mr Nehwangure
dismissed allegations that the late Insp Nehwangure was an inexperienced driver
who failed to control the vehicle when he approached the curve since he was
speeding.
Sister to the
late Insp Nehwangure, Ms Esnath Nehwangure said on the fateful day, his brother
had double thoughts on going to Bindura on that trip.
“He had decided
not to go on that trip saying he would go on another trip,” she said. “He had
just been transferred and he wanted to go and collect his television set and a
DVD player.”
Ms Nehwangure
thanked herdboy, Mr Forgetmore Tigu, who assisted some of the victims to escape
death and called on local authorities to ensure they have functional fire
brigade departments.
Councillor
Biggie Musanzika Makanjera, also known as Madzibaba Biggie, who gave his Honda
HR-V to the police details said he was deeply saddened by the development.
He is hoping
the police will compensate him for the loss of his car. Mr Makanjera said he
drove the officers from Centenary to Mvurwi on their way to Bindura, but
dropped off in Mvurwi.
“It is
unfortunate an accident occurred and there was loss of lives, but as the owner
of the vehicle involved in the accident, I am also expecting a compensation for
my car because it was still new, having been imported in December,” said
Makanjera.
“They have
always asked for my car. It is not only me, but many other business persons and
farmers around this area always assist the police because they do not have the
resources.”
Police
spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba admitted that the
police were poorly resourced to fund all operations. She said they retain 10
percent of all collections from the traffic section and the majority goes to
Government.
Snr Asst Comm
Charamba said resources permitting, suspected criminals should be ferried in a
police van.
“The ZRP is
saddened by the death of Inspector Tendai Nehwangure, Constables Mashona
Musarakufa and Pride Zenda who died in the line of duty in a road traffic
accident at the 62km peg along Mvurwi-Centenary road on July 24, 2017,” said
Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
She described
the late Insp Nehwangure, who was driving the Honda HR-V which encroached on
the right lane resulting in a head on collision with an oncoming Nissan
Caravan, as hard working and passionate about his work.
“Having been
touched by the rape and callous murder of a woman who was fit to be the
accused’s grandmother, Inspector Tendai Nehwangure went out of his way to
ensure that the case was investigated and brought before the courts, hence his
decision to personally go to Bindura Prison to take the accused for
indications,” she said.
Snr Ass Comm
Charamba said there were so many unanswered questions on what could have
transpired in the Honda HR-V, especially in view of the violent inclination of
the accused person whom he was carrying.
The
Mvurwi-Centenary accident claimed the lives of 11 people, including the three
police officers. Fourteen other passengers escaped with injuries. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment