A woman sustained serious head and shoulder injuries on Thursday after being struck by a pirate taxi during a high-speed attempt to evade City of Harare traffic enforcement officers along Robert Mugabe Road.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident. The vehicle involved was being driven by Gay Munyando, an InDrive operator, who admitted he panicked when confronted by council officers near the Joina City area.
Speaking at the scene, Munyando said he had just arrived to pick up a client when a council officer approached his car and allegedly attempted to spike his tyres. In fear of being apprehended, he sped off, triggering a chase that ended with the pedestrian being hit as she crossed the road.
The latest incident comes barely a day after another pedestrian, Blessing Mangezi, lost his life in a separate accident in the central business district, raising renewed concerns about road safety and reckless driving linked to attempts to avoid enforcement authorities.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi has since urged motorists to obey traffic laws and cooperate with enforcement agencies, warning that fleeing from officers often leads to preventable injuries and loss of life.
Authorities continue to appeal to drivers to prioritise safety over evasion, as investigations into the accident continue.
