By Judith Nyuke
An Assistant Inspector from Warren Park Police Station allegedly hit a Harare man’s parked car from behind and then fled the scene, avoiding any responsibility for the damage caused.
Assistant Inspector Elijah Bepe allegedly failed to report the accident to the relevant authorities and did not take any steps to address the situation.
Stanford Mucherera, the affected party, is now seeking USD$3,800 in compensation through his lawyers to cover the repair costs incurred as a result of the accident in a letter dated 28 November 2024.
“We are instructed that on or before the 12th October 2023 at around 18:30 pm and along Birmingham Road and Simon Mazorodze you were driving a Maroon unregistered Mazda small vehicle and rammed into our client’s stationary vehicle, a Toyota corolla.
“You rammed into our client’s vehicle from behind. Our client advises that you stopped and disembarked from your vehicle and pretended you wanted to engage him to proceed to the police’s station to make a report and have the matter managed further and lawfully by law enforcement agency,” read part of the letter.
On the day of the incident, Assistant Inspector Elijah Bepe was allegedly driving a car belonging to his wife, who is also a police officer stationed at Southerton Police Station.
“Our client advises that he was then surprised to notice that as opposed to what you had indicated your intentions were different. You intended to run away.
“Our client hunted you down until he found leads to your vehicle which he established belongs to your wife a Police Inspector Mukandabhutsu ZRP Projects Southerton. Your wife was approached by our client who then gave indications that on the day in question you are the one who was driving the motor vehicle,” he said.
Mucherera expressed his disappointment, stating that he expected Bepe, as a police officer, to handle the situation professionally, given his knowledge of the law and the standard procedures to follow in case of an accident.
“Yourselves, Mr Elijah Bepe you are Assistant Inspector at Warren Park Police Station. Besides our client’s claim, the generality of the society puts high expectations from a Police officer especially of your rank.
“After the accident you did not report the accident. You fled the scene. Thanks to technology. Ours reported under RRB number 5618358.”
Mucherera has issued a five-day ultimatum to Bepe to pay the US$3,800 compensation after receiving the demand letter.
“After the said accident our client’s vehicle was damaged considerably. The following components among other many things weredamaged boot, rear fender, damaged tank, 2 tail lamps.
“Our client advises that he incurred the below mentioned amount in trying to fix the vehicle and the trauma he suffered as a result of the accident whose particularisation shall only be made in the event that this matter is not settled amicably.
“Directly from the accident our client incurred the sum of USD3 800.00 including panel beating labour costs.
Our client instructs us to demand as we hereby do that you pay our client through our offices the sum of USD 3800.00 which our client incurred.
“Settlement is expected to be done within the next 5 (five) days, failure of which we are instructed to approach the courts seeking settlement of this amount, costs and any other punitive amounts applicable to this matter at that material time,” he said.
