Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A BUS driver from Bulawayo has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and banned for life from driving public service or heavy motor vehicles after he was caught transporting 50 passengers while heavily intoxicated.
Newtan Marova (47), of Nkulumane suburb, pleaded guilty before Plumtree Magistrate Mr Busani Sibanda to driving with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his blood, in contravention of Section 54(2) of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11].
In addition to the custodial sentence, Marova was permanently disqualified from driving commuter omnibuses and all heavy motor vehicles.
He was also barred from driving any other class of motor vehicle for one year and ordered to surrender his driver’s licence for immediate cancellation. Passing sentence, Mr Sibanda said Marova had placed the lives of all 50 passengers, as well as other road users, in grave danger by driving a public service vehicle while heavily under the influence of alcohol.
“What makes the offender’s case particularly serious is that he was driving a bus carrying 50 passengers. One can only imagine the risk to which he exposed all these lives,” said Mr Sibanda.
“He also endangered the lives of other road users. His conduct demonstrated a complete disregard for the responsibility expected of skilled drivers. These circumstances required him to be removed from our roads.”
The magistrate said the offence warranted a deterrent sentence to send a clear message that motorists must never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“There is need to punish this kind of conduct. The offender was careless, to say the least, in failing to act as a responsible member of society. The courts expect drivers to refrain from driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” Mr Sibanda noted that road traffic accidents continue to claim many lives, often depriving families of their breadwinners and leaving dependants in severe hardship.
He added that road accidents remain a major national concern, resulting in the needless loss of life, time and resources.
In mitigation, Marova pleaded for leniency, saying he was a first-time offender and the father of two children aged six and 10.
He apologised for his actions.
“Your Worship, I am truly sorry for driving under the influence of alcohol and putting the lives of my passengers at risk,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Fezile Mpofu told the court that on June 19, 2026, at about 4.30am, Marova was driving an AVM bus carrying 50 passengers along the Bulawayo–Solusi Road towards Solusi.
He was stopped at a police roadblock at the 39km peg after officers became suspicious of his behaviour.
A breathalyser test conducted using an AT9000 device revealed an alcohol concentration of 149mg per 100ml of blood.
The reading was well above the legal limit. Under Section 54(2) of the Road Traffic Act, drivers of public service vehicles must have zero mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, while the limit for ordinary motorists is less than 80mg per 100ml.
A printed copy of the breathalyser test result was produced in court as an exhibit.
