News / National
Traffic cop clings onto bonnet of a pirate taxi for 1,5km
04 Sep 2014 at 07:06hrs | Views
A TRAFFIC cop survived a harrowing five minutes of hell when a pirate taxi driver trying to avoid arrest sped off with the law officer clinging onto the bonnet for dear life.
Tapiwa Mumvana, 27, is now facing an attempted murder charge at the regional court in Gweru.
Mumvana, of Mutagi Road, Senga, appeared before regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire on Tuesday.
He admits driving his Toyota Funcargo with Constable Tafara Tizai clinging onto the bonnet for a distance of 1.5km.
Mumvana, however, denied that he intended to kill the law officer.
Nemadire remanded Mumvana out of custody to today for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Ndamukanei Chikuni said on March 18 this year at around 7AM, Mumvana was driving a Toyota Funcargo hatch back when he stopped at an undesignated point along Lobengula Avenue in Gweru Central Business District to drop passengers.
Chikuni said Mumvana was approached by Const Tizai who was on bike patrol together with his colleague, Const Axian Muskwe. Both officers were in police uniform.
The court heard that Mumvana was told that he was under arrest for offloading passengers at an undesignated place.
The court heard that Mumvana closed all the vehicle's windows and reversed the car in a bid to escape.
She said the two officers ordered him to stop, but he drove his car towards Const Tizai and hit his bicycle.
Chikuni said Const Tizai was forced to jump onto the bonnet of the vehicle to avoid getting crushed and held on the car's wipers for dear life.
She said Mumvana drove off at high speed along Third Street going towards Show Grounds and Mvuma Road.
It is further alleged that Mumvana was driving his car in a zig-zag manner and applying sudden brakes as he tried to shake off the police officer from the bonnet.
Chikuni said Const Tizai kept on ordering the accused to stop but he did not comply.
She said Mumvana then drove towards a traffic circle near the Gweru Show Grounds and just after the grounds, Mumvana opened his window.
The police officer seized the chance, quickly went for the keys and turned off the engine.
Chikuni said the car had moved for a distance of about 1.5km with the police officer clinging onto the bonnet.
She said the other police officer, Const Muskwe, who was giving chase with his bicycle, arrived at the scene and helped the complainant to arrest Mumvana.
Const Tizai did not sustain any injuries.
Chikuni said Mumvana's speed and manner of driving while the police officer clung onto the bonnet showed that he had intentions of killing him.
Mumvana told the court that Const Tizai threw himself willingly on the bonnet.
He denied the charge of trying to kill him deliberately.
Tapiwa Mumvana, 27, is now facing an attempted murder charge at the regional court in Gweru.
Mumvana, of Mutagi Road, Senga, appeared before regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire on Tuesday.
He admits driving his Toyota Funcargo with Constable Tafara Tizai clinging onto the bonnet for a distance of 1.5km.
Mumvana, however, denied that he intended to kill the law officer.
Nemadire remanded Mumvana out of custody to today for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Ndamukanei Chikuni said on March 18 this year at around 7AM, Mumvana was driving a Toyota Funcargo hatch back when he stopped at an undesignated point along Lobengula Avenue in Gweru Central Business District to drop passengers.
Chikuni said Mumvana was approached by Const Tizai who was on bike patrol together with his colleague, Const Axian Muskwe. Both officers were in police uniform.
The court heard that Mumvana was told that he was under arrest for offloading passengers at an undesignated place.
The court heard that Mumvana closed all the vehicle's windows and reversed the car in a bid to escape.
She said the two officers ordered him to stop, but he drove his car towards Const Tizai and hit his bicycle.
Chikuni said Const Tizai was forced to jump onto the bonnet of the vehicle to avoid getting crushed and held on the car's wipers for dear life.
She said Mumvana drove off at high speed along Third Street going towards Show Grounds and Mvuma Road.
It is further alleged that Mumvana was driving his car in a zig-zag manner and applying sudden brakes as he tried to shake off the police officer from the bonnet.
Chikuni said Const Tizai kept on ordering the accused to stop but he did not comply.
She said Mumvana then drove towards a traffic circle near the Gweru Show Grounds and just after the grounds, Mumvana opened his window.
The police officer seized the chance, quickly went for the keys and turned off the engine.
Chikuni said the car had moved for a distance of about 1.5km with the police officer clinging onto the bonnet.
She said the other police officer, Const Muskwe, who was giving chase with his bicycle, arrived at the scene and helped the complainant to arrest Mumvana.
Const Tizai did not sustain any injuries.
Chikuni said Mumvana's speed and manner of driving while the police officer clung onto the bonnet showed that he had intentions of killing him.
Mumvana told the court that Const Tizai threw himself willingly on the bonnet.
He denied the charge of trying to kill him deliberately.
Source - chronicle
