Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A 30-YEAR-OLD man from Binga has been fined US$500 or six months in prison for causing a road traffic accident that led to the death of a passenger, following a crash along the Siabuwa-Mujeri Road in 2023.
Hapymore Mudenda of Kalungwizi Village under Chief Siabuwa, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to culpable homicide when he appeared before Hwange provincial magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Kabasa.
Prosecuting, Mr Wisdom Shava told the court that on 26 October 2023, Mudenda was driving an Isuzu panel van with 13 passengers on board.
The vehicle overturned at the 21km peg along the narrow, gravel Siabuwa-Mujeri Road after Mudenda lost control of it due to speeding.
Several passengers seated in the open load box were thrown out of the vehicle upon impact. One of them, Martha Mutale, was trapped inside and sustained severe injuries.
She was initially taken to Binga District Hospital before being transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where she later died two weeks after the accident.
“The accused did not take reasonable action to avoid the crash when danger became apparent, resulting in the accident,” Mr Shava told the court.
