Harare Clamping Tragedy: Kids Watched Helplessly As Father Died Without Receiving Aid After Being Run Over While Trying To Get Car Unclamped

A routine family trip to Harare’s city centre ended in horrific tragedy this week, leaving two children traumatised after witnessing their father struck by a vehicle and left without medical assistance for nearly an hour. The fatal incident, which occurred on January 7, 2026, unfolded after the man’s car was clamped by city authorities, triggering a desperate and ultimately fatal sequence of events.

According to a detailed eyewitness account by veteran broadcaster Barney Mpariwa published in H-Metro, the tragedy began when a driver, a young father, mistakenly entered the poorly marked Inez Terrace, a one-way street. Police officers promptly issued a fine, which the man paid at a nearby charge office. Upon his return, however, he discovered his vehicle had been clamped by Harare City Council parking marshals.

A Father’s Desperate Chase Ends In Catastrophe

Panicked, the father ran from the scene to locate a marshal and secure his vehicle’s release. At that exact moment, a separate police operation was causing chaos at the adjacent intersection of Robert Mugabe Road and Julius Nyerere Way. Officers were pursuing commuter omnibuses and mushikashika (illegal taxis).

Mpariwa’s account describes the fatal moment with chilling clarity. He writes:

“The young man was struck. He was thrown into the air, spinning violently before his head smashed into a windscreen. He collapsed onto the road.”

The father lay critically injured on the tarmac. For approximately 45 minutes, no emergency medical services arrived at the scene. His two young children remained inside the family’s clamped vehicle, forced to watch the aftermath of the collision that left their father motionless.

A Mother’s Absence And A System Scrutinised

The children’s mother was not present during the ordeal. Mpariwa reports she was at the passport office renewing her travel document, completely unaware her family was caught in a nightmare.

The lengthy delay in medical aid and the circumstances leading to the accident have sparked intense scrutiny. Mpariwa’s narrative poses direct questions about the city’s enforcement protocols. He challenges the decision to clamp a vehicle whose driver had just settled a fine, and highlights the dangers of high-speed police chases in densely packed urban areas.

The broadcaster concluded his account with a powerful indictment of the day’s events, stating:

“I’m completely heart broken and very furious. This incident did not have to happen. Instead, children are now left carrying the lifelong trauma of watching their father struck by a car − simply because someone else was fleeing the police.”

He framed the tragedy not as an isolated accident, but as a profound failure, writing, “This was not just an accident. It was a collective failure − of systems, priorities, and compassion.”

As of now, neither the Harare City Council nor the Zimbabwe Republic Police have issued a public statement addressing the specific timeline and actions described in the eyewitness report. The story has generated significant outcry on social media, with many users expressing anguish over the children’s ordeal and the perceived lack of urgent care for the victim.