Traffic policeman hit by a kombi at roadblock, survives

A traffic policeman escaped death by a whisker when he was hit by a commuter omnibus at a police roadblock along Khami Road in Bulawayo on Thursday morning.

The policeman was identified as Sergeant Sidumiso Moyo from the ZRP Traffic Section and was hit by a commuter omnibus plying the Pumula South-City route.

The commuter omnibus was driven by a man identified as Zhou.

Police sources said Sgt Moyo sustained a fractured leg and injuries around the body and was admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

The incident resulted in police intensifying their presence along Khami Road yesterday morning where a number of commuter omnibuses were reportedly impounded.

Commuter omnibuses that use Khami Road from Pumula South and Nkulumane 11 and 12 ended up using alternative routes to the city centre to evade the police.

"Imitshova eminengi isithethwe ngamapholisa e fly-over ngenxa yalokhu okwenzakale izolo. Namhla kabakhethi bengakuzonda kuphela kumbe nxa ujwayele ukubaleka bahle bethathe umtshova yikho sesisebenzisa umgwaqo weSizinda. (Police are impounding kombis following yesterday's incident and we are now using Sizinda Road)," said a commuter omnibus driver yesterday morning.

The Thursday incident occurred during the morning rush hour. Although confirming the accident, the officer commanding Bulawayo Traffic, Superintendent Moreblessing Gandiyaru could not give details, saying there was no written report.

"I was just told about the accident but have not seen a written report. So I cannot comment for now and can only do so once I get the written report," he said.

This is the second time a traffic police officer has been hit by a car at a roadblock in four months in Bulawayo, after a motorist allegedly crushed a female police officer, Sergeant Ottilia Magwenya (36) to death when he failed to stop at a roadblock in June.

Witnesses said Sgt Moyo and a female colleague had mounted a roadblock at the fly-over along Khami Road near Delta Beverages when the accident, which nearly killed him occurred.

A commuter omnibus driver who preferred anonymity said the commuter omnibus that hit Sgt Moyo was driving behind him when they approached the roadblock.

"I was driving towards town when I was signalled to stop, which I did. I remained stationary on the inner lane waiting for a chance to pull to the side of the road because there were other vehicles behind me. The policeman then moved away towards the outer lane without checking for oncoming traffic and was then hit by a kombi," said the kombi driver.

Another kombi driver said: "Police usually signal many vehicles to stop at the roadblock thereby causing a traffic jam. We understand according to traffic rules, a vehicle should be stopped at least 50 metres away from the roadblock but they do not erect stop signs or police-ahead signs."

Some drivers accused police officers of jumping onto the road forcing them to apply emergency breaks.

When Chronicle arrived at the scene on Thursday morning Sgt Moyo was being carried away by his colleagues.

The kombi was reportedly impounded while the driver was said to be in police custody yesterday.