DRUNK DRIVER KILLS WOMAN ON HARARE-BYO ROAD, Motorist jailed for culpable homicide

Magistrate Ashton Dube challenged Machika’s justification, saying his actions were a direct violation of the child’s rights and an obstruction of due legal process.

B-Metro Reporter

A GWERU man will spend the next 10 months behind bars after he mowed down and killed a 20-year-old woman in a booze-fuelled road tragedy.

Tatenda Kwenda (26) was convicted of culpable homicide by the Gweru Magistrates’ Court following the tragic death of Emilda Tatenda Shumba at the 247km peg along the Harare–Bulawayo highway.

Kwenda, who was driving a black Toyota Wish heading towards Bulawayo on 17 June 2023, struck the woman with such force that she died on the spot.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), “The Court held that the offender had been grossly negligent because he was visibly intoxicated when he committed the offence.”

His recklessness was laid bare in court, with the prosecution citing:
• Excessive speed under the circumstances
• Failure to act reasonably when danger was imminent
• Failure to keep a proper lookout
Kwenda was slapped with a 12-month prison term, but 2 months were suspended for five years. He will serve 10 effective months and has also been banned from driving for 13 months.