Online Reporter
THIS week, 40-year-old Patrick Tumbo is undoubtedly our standout Mampara of the Week.
On a perfectly fine June afternoon, around 4.30pm, the haulage truck driver, who is employed by Bastrans, decided that driving in his lane, along the Harare-Mutare road, was not that fun.
Instead, he decided to zig-zag his way along the highway.
Unfortunately for him, vigilant traffic police officers pulled him over and slapped him with a ticket.
But here is where the plot thickens.
When they pulled him over, Patrick exhibited erratic behaviour — probably blood-shot eyes, jelly knees and the occasional hiccups — that made them suspect he was as high as a kite.
They duly frogmarched him to the police station and whipped out the breathalyser.
The result? 212mg per 100ml of blood.
Let us put that in perspective.
The legal limit is 80mg.
So Patrick was driving a 40-tonne Shaman F3000 haulage truck, towing a trailer, while being roughly two-and-a-half times more intoxicated than the law allows.
In other words, he was a moving beerhall on two legs and an accident waiting to happen.
The magistrate took a particularly dim view of his irresponsible behaviour and sentenced him to two years in prison, enough time for him to sober up.
They also should have revoked his driver’s licence — if they have not already done so.
But kudos to our police officers for ridding the road of another mampara, who could have surely caused another tragedy.
Our roads are much safer without this idiot.
