A horrendous incident that allegedly resulted in a toddler “losing life” yesterday in Harare while a police officer was assaulting a woman is a fallacy, Police have claimed.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police have denied claims that a toddler died last night after a mother was attacked by an overzealous officer.
Social media claims had reported that on Monday, a police officer patrolling Second Street, near Bindura bound commuter rank in Harare allegedly struck the toddler who was strapped to his mother’s back with his truncheon.
The baby who is reported to be 9-months-old was said to have died instantly, following injuries sustained in the attack.
A video went viral on social media showing the grieving mother holding the dead baby in one hand while pulling the seemingly terrified police officer in the other.
Members of the public appeared to be effecting a citizen’s arrest on the overzealous police officer.
Vanehama mapurisa udzai hama dzenyu dziite dzungu shoma please.
A police officer in Bindura arova mukadzi nemboma,akabva auraya mwana anga ari kumusana.@PoliceZimbabwe who said people should be beaten, can't you take people to the station
This is bad💔💔 pic.twitter.com/UTVAUxsUXW— Alice Tsungu (@TsunguAlice) January 5, 2021
But fresh police reports suggest that after an investigation was made on the matter, these reports were untrue.
The police claim that an officer enforcing traffic duties at that area struck a kombi and fragments of the windscreen hit both the baby and the mother.
The incident resulted in members of the public attacking a police officer accusing him of hurting the child.
The police then took the mother and her child to West End clinic where medical checks revealed that they were both fine and there were no injuries sustained.
The child is still alive and kicking, Police claims.
Read the full statement below;
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) January 6, 2021
ZRP STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA POST TITLED ‘POLICE OFFICER STRIKES, KILLS LITTLE BABY WITH BATON HARARE’
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has taken note of the social media post titled ‘Police Officer strikes, kills little baby with baton in Harare The public is advised that comprehensive investigations conducted by the police command has revealed that a team of police officers was on traffic enforcement duties along Second Street near Bindura bound commuter rank, Harare on 4th January 2021at 12 noon when one of the members tried to arrest a kombi crew for picking passengers at an undesignated point and contravening COVID-19 regulations.
The member smashed a windscreen on the kombi and the fragments hit the mother and the baby. A fracas occurred as the mother and members of the public remonstrated against the officers. After negotiations by the parties, the mother and the baby were taken to West End Clinic where medical checks revealed that no injuries had been sustained by the baby or mother. There were no life threatening injuries to the two.
Surprisingly the police officers and the mother decided not to report the incident. They ignored the fact that the incident had been captured by various people through smart phones and posted on social media.
The child is not dead as alleged on social media and this has been confirmed by medical personnel who are now in touch with the police and parents. The child was checked by medical experts on the same day and was not admitted at the hospital.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police does not condone acts of smashing kombis’ windscreens and in the process endangering innocent members of the public’s lives. The ZRP reiterates that action will be taken against the errant police officers. The Zimbabwe Republic Police Command is now taking to task the concerned members to account for their actions.
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