Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
THREE Harare City Council employees accused of negligence that allegedly led to the drowning deaths of three people in Budiriro 3 have been denied bail by a Harare regional magistrate.
Regional magistrate Mr Musaiona Shotgame ruled on Monday that the accused — Moses Dicko (57), Tinei Chihwai (41) and Thomas Rwakatiwana (52) — should remain in custody, citing the seriousness of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the case.
The trio is facing three counts of culpable homicide after allegedly leaving an unsecured sewage excavation open for several months in a residential area.
In his ruling, Mr Shotgame described the alleged conduct as deeply concerning.
“This was an act of negligence,” he said, noting that the pit had been left uncovered for about five months, exposing the public to danger.
He added that the matter involved the loss of three lives and was therefore of significant public interest.
“The offence is serious and attracts a lengthy sentence. The application is dismissed,” he ruled.
The accused were remanded in custody to June 29 pending the finalisation of investigations.
Prosecutor Ms Ethel Mahachi told the court that in February this year, the accused — all employees of the City of Harare — allegedly dug a sewage manhole in Budiriro 3 to clear a blockage.
The excavation, measuring approximately five metres in length, three metres in width and 3.5 metres in depth, was allegedly left unsecured and unbarricaded.
The State alleges that Saul Karakadzai, Talits Munda and Vimbainashe Chihota later fell into the sludge-filled pit and drowned.
The court heard that the accused failed to take reasonable measures to prevent public access to the hazardous site.
Although the Harare City Council is cited in the matter and is being represented by Engineer Richard Tapiwa Kunyadini, the head of Harare Water, the three men are being charged in their personal capacities as they were directly responsible for operations at the site.
Dicko is a Superintendent for Region 3 Zone 4, which covers Budiriro, Glen View, Mufakose and Marimba, while Chihwai is a Plumber Class One and Rwakatiwana a Works Foreman.
