Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A 24-year-old commuter omnibus driver has been jailed for an effective 30 months and banned from driving for life after repeatedly ignoring police orders to stop after committing several traffic offences while trying to evade arrest.
Farai Wireless was convicted of four counts of contravening the Traffic Act and unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.
Harare magistrate Ms Appolonia Marutya sentenced him to an effective 30 months in prison and imposed a lifetime driving ban.
The State was represented by Kudzai Hapaguti, a police officer stationed at ZRP Harare Central CBD Traffic.
Prosecuting, Ms Farirai Makuyana told the court that on July 5, at around 10am, Hapaguti was conducting traffic patrols along Chiremba Road on a police motorcycle, accompanied by another officer, Bauleni.
The court heard that Hapaguti spotted Wireless driving a Toyota Hiace, registration number AGJ 3199.
Wireless allegedly ignored the officer’s signal to stop at a railway crossing and drove away.
On July 6, Hapaguti and Bauleni were patrolling at the intersection of Simon Muzenda Street, formerly Fourth Street, and Robert Mugabe Road when they again spotted the same vehicle.
The officer signalled Wireless to stop, but he allegedly ignored the instruction and drove through a red traffic light.
Hapaguti then pursued him and instructed him, through the vehicle”s window to stop, but Wireless allegedly continued driving.
The court heard that Wireless then drove against the one-way system along ED Mnangagwa Way towards Nelson Mandela Avenue before making a sudden U-turn and proceeding against traffic in the opposite direction.
He allegedly went through another red traffic light at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Road and ED Mnangagwa Way before driving recklessly towards Rhodesville, Cranborne and Msasa Park.
The police officer eventually contacted the owner of the commuter omnibus, who instructed Wireless to stop.
Wireless was subsequently apprehended.
A search following his arrest allegedly led to the recovery of one sachet of dagga and Rizzla papers.
He was taken to Harare Central Police Station, where he was detained.
