daniel chigunwe
IN today’s edition we have a report on a rogue kombi driver who will spend the next two years in prison for causing an accident that resulted in a death and several serious injuries in Harare at the start of the year
Apart from an effective two-year imprisonment, the 29-year-old driver, Blessmore Nyamasoka also had his driver’s license cancelled and was prohibited from driving for two years.
Nyamasoka was reckless while driving a Toyota Hiace along Nemakonde Way carrying 15 passengers and seven from his kombi ended up at Parirenyatwa.
One of the passengers died from the accident injuries a few weeks later, prompting the trial and eventual conviction and sentencing.
The court ruled that Nyamasoka was negligent as he drove at an excessive speed in the circumstances, failed to keep a proper outlook, failed to act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent and drove against oncoming traffic.
Friday’s sentencing of the kombi driver for culpable homicide after causing a fatal accident is a tragic reminder of the cost of negligence on our roads.
While justice has been served in this instance, the loss of life is irreversible, and for the victim’s family, no sentence will ever be enough to undo their pain.
The level of recklessness on the roads is alarming and, unfortunately, it is the work of reckless kombi drivers who put profits before passenger safety so much that they stop, reverse or make a u-turn where there is a high risk of danger.
All they care for is the US$1 they expect from a potential passenger.
Most of these kombi drivers drive without regard for traffic laws, speed dangerously, overload their vehicles, and openly flout basic road courtesy.
The public outcry following fatal accidents often fades quickly, yet the problem persists.
Some kombi drivers even drive dangerously a few metres past a bad accident, meaning they are not willing to learn from others.
No matter the amount of newspaper articles, social media posts and police campaigns take place, the kombi drivers continue to endanger lives with their recklessness.
That is why experts argue that sentencing drivers after fatal accidents, while necessary, is a reactive approach.
They believe a thorities must be proactive to prevent such tragedies.
The country already has fairly restrictive or strict licensing requirements and compulsory regular re-testing, which are however barely enforced.
We have been part of the stakeholders who believe that tough penalties must be imposed not only after fatalities, but also for reckless driving, overloading, and repeated minor offences.
There have been calls that the companies and owners behind these vehicles must also be held accountable given that they are often accused of pressuring drivers into unrealistic trip targets, forcing them to drive recklessly to meet their quotas.
Enforcement of the existing laws governing public transport operators is the immediate challenge before attempting to review the punishments.
Online Reporter