The now deceased Insp Nehwangure had just been transferred from Mt Darwin, where he was in the operations department, to Centenary as the police officer-in-charge.
It is understood that Centenary police station does not have a vehicle, the officers rely on other motorists for movement. This includes when shuttling between the courts and the police station, including district investigations.
Similarly, Mvurwi police station, which is 12 kilometres away from the scene of an accident which claimed the life of Insp Nehwangure recently, does not have a vehicle, hence the delay in attending the emergency. On the fateful day, Insp Nehwangure had contemplated letting his subordinate, Assistant Inspector Stanley Chimutsa, go to Bindura with other officers.
Little did he know that he was going to meet his fate on that day at around 2:40pm at the 62km peg along Centenary-Mvurwi Road. Mr Gilbert Nehwangure, brother to the late Insp Nehwangure said his brother died in the line of duty, striving to let justice take its course.
Mr Nehwangure said the family believed that a scuffle could have ensued between Gift Madzvanya, the murder and rape suspect who was being ferried to Centenary by Insp Nehwangure for indications, and other officers in the vehicle. Insp Nehwangure was carrying the suspect using a private vehicle, and the scuffle could have caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
“If these officers would have been in a proper police van, maybe this accident would not have occurred,” said Mr Nehwangure. “Remember, this suspect had beaten up an old woman and raped her, so indications that the suspect was actually violent where already there.
Nehwangure, Ms Esnath Nehwangure said on the fateful day, his brother had double thoughts on going to Bindura on that trip.
“He had decided not to go on that trip saying he would go on another trip,” she said. “He had just been transferred and he wanted to go and collect his television set and a DVD player.”
Ms Nehwangure thanked herdboy, Mr Forgetmore Tigu, who assisted some of the victims to escape death and called on local authorities to ensure they have functional fire brigade departments.
Councillor Biggie Musanzika Makanjera, also known as Madzibaba Biggie, who gave his Honda HR-V to the police details said he was deeply saddened by the development.
He is hoping the police will compensate him for the loss of his car. Mr Makanjera said he drove the officers from Centenary to Mvurwi on their way to Bindura, but dropped off in Mvurwi.
“It is unfortunate an accident occurred and there was loss of lives, but as the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident, I am also expecting a compensation for my car because it was still new, having been imported in December,” said Makanjera.