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<\/p>\nPolice have clarified an incident in which some family members allegedly brought a coffin to Machipisa Police Station in Highfield, Harare, accusing officers of causing the death of their relative following an alleged road traffic collision involving a police officer.<\/p>\n
Following the incident, four touts were arrested and fined on Tuesday for parading the coffin with the body of their colleague, who was a driver, on top of a kombi from Chitungwiza to Highfield.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The case has been shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts circulating on social media.<\/p>\n
The body was later placed in a funeral hearse and taken to the cemetery for burial.<\/p>\n
In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police wish to set the record straight about the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe alleged victim, Paswell Tichare (29) of Hopley, Harare, passed away on 05th April 2026 at Unit H Shopping Centre, Chitungwiza, after a long illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did not die as a result of any police action or road traffic incident involving a police officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 07th April 2026 at around 1630 hours, relatives, friends and associates of Paswell Tichare proceeded to collect the body for burial at Mbudzi Cemetery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe group, which included touts, placed the coffin on top of a Toyota Hiace vehicle and formed a convoy from Zengeza 4 to Machipisa bus terminus.<\/p>\n
\u201cUpon reaching Machipisa, the group blocked Main Street, disrupted the free flow of traffic, sang songs honouring their late colleague’s touting activities and engaged in reckless conduct, including vehicle skidding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gathering was not linked to any police action or road traffic accident in Paswell Tichare’s death.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice acted swiftly to restore order and ensure the safety of other road users by taking the body to the Police station and subsequent handover to a funeral parlour vehicle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coffin was subsequently removed from the Toyota Hiace and transferred into the funeral service vehicle for the continuation of burial proceedings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Nyathi said, four people have been arrested and fined.<\/p>\n
\u201cFour individuals, Godwin Mazenge, Michael Zhuwawo (30), Anna Chere (27) and Tawanda Mafaranyika (27) were arrested for disorderly conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suspects have since paid admission of guilt deposit fines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to desist from spreading unverified information on social media, as this may cause unnecessary alarm and confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the other hand, touts and relatives who parade coffins while disrupting the smooth flow of traffic will face the full wrath of law.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Police have clarified an incident in which some family members allegedly brought a coffin to Machipisa Police Station in Highfield, Harare, accusing officers of causing the death of their relative following an alleged road traffic collision involving a police officer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[941,165,940,939,942],"class_list":{"0":"post-5210","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news-zimbabwe","8":"tag-anna-chere","9":"tag-commissioner-paul-nyathi","10":"tag-godwin-mazenge","11":"tag-michael-zhuwawo","12":"tag-tawanda-mafaranyika"},"yoast_head":"\n