Zimpapers Logo

Police spokesperson for Matabeleland  South province Sergeant Loveness Mangena said the incident occurred on Monday at about 3am, just outside Gwanda town.
“The now deceased, Monias Machaya, was manning a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road when Michael Mohahleni Khomani, who was driving a South Africa registered Mazda 323, approached from a distance at high speed,” said Sgt Mangena.

“Const Machaya, who was wearing a police bib, signalled Khomani to stop, but he failed to apply brakes prompting him to swerve onto the right lane, resulting in the vehicle hitting the police officer who had also moved to the same lane and he fell onto the bonnet.”

The car continued moving for a few metres while Machaya clung onto the bonnet before it screeched to an abrupt halt and he fell headlong onto the ground.

The car was heading towards Bulawayo with three people on board.

Police from Gwanda traffic police section attended the scene.

Sgt Mangena said Machaya sustained severe head injuries and multiple fractures in the right leg and ribs.

He was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he died on admission. The body was taken to the UBH mortuary.

Sgt Mangena said Khomani, who is based in Diepsloot, Johannesburg in South Africa, has since been arrested. He is expected to appear in court soon facing a charge of culpable homicide.

“As police, we would like to warn motorists against speeding.
“They should exercise extra caution when approaching a roadblock as well as adhering to the stipulated speed limit to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in which lives are lost unnecessarily,” said the police  spokesperson.