Kombi driver knocks down traffic cop

A 43-YEAR-OLD kombi driver landed himself in trouble after he knocked down a police officer with his vehicle while attempting to evade arrest.

Clever Kafero was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande answering to attempted murder charges and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

According to the State, the incident occurred on September 13 this year when Kafero was driving a commuter omnibus along Sam Nujoma Street due north.

The State alleges he stopped to pick passengers at an undesignated point and was observed by two police constables, Tapiwanashe Mupfururi and Richard Nadi, who were on patrol.

Upon noticing the police officers, Kafero drove off ignoring Mupfururi, who was signalling him to stop while standing in the road.

Instead, it is alleged, Kafero sped towards the officer and hit him on the left side with his vehicle.

The police officer was flung into the air and fell hard on the ground, thereby sustaining serious head injuries and bruises. Kafero did not stop but later he abandoned his vehicle along Mazowe Street.

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa said Mupfururi was currently admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital in a critical condition.

Mutizirwa told the court Kafero did not dispute dumping the vehicle along Mazowe Street.