19-year-old woman dies at roadblock as police detain kombi

By Tatenda Dewa

A woman with severe cardiac problems collapsed and died at a roadblock in Nyanga as police insisted on a $15 spot fine, according to local media reports.

Cecilia Mapako, 19, was being ferried to from Regina Coeli Mission Hospital to Parirenyatwa when the public bus she was travelling in was stopped by police at the Troutbek turnoff in Nyanga.

The traffic details detained the kombi for about an hour, insisting that the driver must pay the $15 spot fine.

Mapako’s husband who was accompanying her, Lazarus Sakubende, who works as a commuter omnibus conductor, said his wife’s condition deteriorated during the detention.

“We were at the roadblock for about an hour, as police insisted that we should pay a fine. It was during that period that my wife’s condition deteriorated before passing on at the roadblock,” he said.

Nyanga police, who could not be reached for a comment, provided a vehicle and metal coffin to take Mapako’s body to the mortuary.

The incident has reportedly sparked anger in the Nyanga community.

Motorists and passengers have for long complained about swamping roadblocks where corruption is rife and which the police are using to generate revenue. Nehanda Radio