A passenger was shot and kiIIed 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.
The area is notorious for robberies and hijackings, which may have contributed to the driver’s decision to keep moving.
The victim, identified as 21-year-old Shadreck Madzore, was seated in the back of a pickup truck when he was struck by two bullets fired from an unmarked Toyota Probox used by the police.
Following a high-speed pursuit, both vehicles came to a stop at a tollgate, where officers realised that Madzore had been fatally shot.
His family members stated that police initially arrested the truck’s driver and another passenger on suspicion of being robbers but later released them without any charges.
Masvingo Province police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa stated that he had not yet received an official report on the incident at the time of inquiry.
The deceased’s uncle, Samson Madzore, criticised the police response, calling it excessive and an abuse of firearms. He recounted that the pickup truck had suffered a puncture at a detour, and after the wheel was replaced, the driver resumed the journey.
Soon after, an unmarked vehicle attempted to flag them down. Fearing an attack by criminals, the driver sped off, prompting a chase. Shots were fired from the pursuing vehicle, hitting Shadreck twice.
Reports indicate that just a week prior, a haulage truck driver had been assaulted and robbed of money and valuables in the same area.
Given this background, it is likely that the driver of the pickup truck mistook the unmarked police vehicle for criminals and attempted to flee, leading to the tragic outcome.
