A tragic accident claimed the life of a Zimbabwean police officer on Monday evening, highlighting the inherent dangers faced by law enforcement personnel conducting roadblock duties.
Assistant Inspector Phillimon Hweru, 45, died after being struck by the trailer of a haulage truck that failed to stop at a roadblock along the Mazowe-Centenary Road near Mvurwi.
The incident occurred around 5.50 PM at the 42-kilometre peg of the highway. According to police reports, a Freightliner Columbia truck, registration number ABZ2217, driven by 50-year-old Tarcisio Chiutsi, disregarded the roadblock.
A police source described the events: “The truck did not comply with the signal to stop, and in the process, Assistant Inspector Hweru was struck by the trailer.”
The impact of the collision was severe. The truck, which was travelling towards Mazowe and carrying no passengers, continued its path, colliding with a stationary Nissan X-trail vehicle also at the roadblock. Assistant Inspector Hweru sustained critical head injuries and was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival at Mvurwi Hospital.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident via their official X account, stating: “The police officer was conducting roadblock duties when a Freightliner Columbia truck travelling towards Mazowe with no passengers on board, evaded the checkpoint and hit him on the head with the trailer.”
While the initial ZRP statement did not name the deceased officer, subsequent reports identified him as Assistant Inspector Hweru.
This is not an isolated incident. The dangers faced by police officers manning roadblocks have been tragically underscored by similar accidents in the past. Last year, on New Year’s Eve, another police officer lost her life in a similar circumstance at the 51-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare Road. A haulage truck passing by accidentally dislodged a trailer wheel, which struck the officer as she stood on the roadside.
