Motorist thumps cop at roadblock

A police officer was thoroughly beaten by a Bulawayo motorist for blocked him as he attempted to flee after failing to produce a driver's licence at a roadblock.

Collen Maponga (26), who was driving along Matopos Road, allegedly assaulted Tichaona Kamuzondi (27) stationed at Bulawayo Central Traffic.

The incident happened on December 17 at around 10pm.

Maponga yesterday pleaded not guilty when he appeared before magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa.

He said he was retaliating after Kamuzondi hit him first.

Ms Maphosa remanded Maponga in custody to January 4.

"The police officer was the one who assaulted me first. He slapped me twice on my left cheek," said Maponga.

"I retaliated by punching him. The other police officers at the roadblock ganged up against me and they started kicking me all over my body," said Maponga.

Zeus Chinyoka, another police officer who was at the roadblock, said Maponga was the aggressor.

"The accused was asked to pull over and produce a driver's licence but instead of co-operating, he became aggressive and tried to flee. As my colleague tried to stop him, the accused punched him," said Chinyoka.

The incident happened on December 17 at around 10pm.