By A Correspondent

A shocking kidnapping incident occurred on New Year’s Eve in Harare, where a municipal traffic police officer was abducted by a motorist attempting to evade arrest. The officer, 23-year-old Felistas Mutongweza, was taken by an unidentified driver who was operating a private vehicle without a council license.

According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson for Harare Province, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the incident unfolded at the corner of Rezende Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue around 10 AM. “On December 31, 2024, the complainant was on duty with her workmates. Before the complainant’s colleagues entered the car, the accused person drove away with the complainant and other passengers along Sam Nujoma Street towards Belgravia Shopping Centre,” Inspector Chakanza explained.

During the abduction, the motorist took Mutongweza’s cell phone to prevent her from communicating with her colleagues. However, the officer was eventually released at Belgravia Shops, where the motorist returned her phone and drove off. Mutongweza quickly contacted her workmates, who arrived to pick her up.

The incident highlights the risks faced by law enforcement officers in their daily duties.

An investigation into the incident is likely to follow, with the authorities working to identify and apprehend the motorist responsible.