By Desire Tshuma
Harare – A routine parking dispute in Harare’s central business district allegedly turned violent when a motorist was assaulted in broad daylight by another driver, leaving the victim shaken and prompting an appeal for the public to assist police with identifying the alleged assailant.
The incident occurred around midday between Angwa Street and Speke Avenue in the CBD, in full view of vendors, passersby and other motorists.
According to the aggrieved motorist, who requested anonymity for security and personal reasons, he was looking for parking when a vehicle ahead of him vacated a parking bay. He waited for the space to become available before proceeding to park.
However, the situation allegedly took a dramatic turn when the owner of a Mazda SUV, registration number AHG-3094, approached him and accused him of damaging the rear bumper of his vehicle.
The victim said he attempted to explain that he had not noticed making contact with the vehicle, while at the same time offering to take responsibility if it was established that he had caused the damage.
“I tried to reason with him and calm the situation down. I told him that if I had caused the damage, I was prepared to take responsibility and pay for it. Instead, he became aggressive and slapped me twice,” the victim said.
The confrontation reportedly attracted the attention of people in the area, including vendors and other motorists. The victim’s cousin, who was travelling with him, also got out of the vehicle as the situation escalated.
The alleged assailant eventually returned to his vehicle and drove away.
Despite the shock of the incident, the victim managed to photograph the man and his vehicle, including the registration number. The photographs are expected to assist investigators and will be shared alongside this article to help establish the identity of the person sought by police.
The victim subsequently reported the matter at Harare Central Police Station, where a police docket was opened under reference IR 080918.
“I have nothing against anyone and I was willing to resolve the matter peacefully. If I had damaged his vehicle, I was prepared to pay. What hurt me most was being assaulted over a matter that could have been resolved through dialogue or through the proper legal channels,” he said.
The victim also expressed concern that confrontations of this nature can potentially be exploited by criminals who allegedly manufacture disputes as a means of targeting unsuspecting motorists.
“People must be cautious because you cannot rule out situations where someone deliberately creates a dispute with an innocent motorist with the intention of taking advantage of them. I am not saying that is what happened in my case, but it is something people should be aware of,” he said.
He stressed, however, that the matter should now be left in the hands of the police.
“No one should take the law into their own hands. People must respect one another and allow the law to take its course. Violence is totally unacceptable, especially over a dispute that can be handled peacefully,” he said.
The victim is appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises the individual in the photographs to provide information to the police so that investigations can proceed.
He said he was prepared to cooperate fully with investigators and, if required, appear in court and provide the photographs and any other evidence in his possession.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the need for motorists and members of the public to exercise restraint when disputes arise, particularly in busy public places. A disagreement over property damage, parking or any other issue should be reported to the relevant authorities rather than escalating into violence.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
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