Ex-Zimpapers driver charged with culpable homicide

charges of culpable homicide.
Mapeta was involved in an accident in Macheke that killed Herald senior reporter Chakanetsa Chidyamatiyo and deputy chief photographer Onward Charakupa.
Prosecutor Ms Melody Masiye said on September 14 last year at around 7:10 pm, Mapeta was driving a Toyota Hilux truck to Harare with the journalists.
She told the court that the road on which Mapeta was driving was wide, tarred and fairly straight, emerging from a dip at Macheke Bridge.
On approaching the 109km peg, Mapeta rammed the back of a trailer of a broken down Freightliner truck.
The driver of the truck, Mathius Sungwe, was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Chidyamatiyo sustained serious head and chest injuries and was taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital by a Good Samaritan but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Charakupa sustained serious head injuries and was taken to the same hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital two days later.
Charakupa was transferred to Ray of Hope Nursing Home in Avondale on September 24 where his condition deteriorated before he died the following day.
Mapeta pleaded not guilty.
The State, however, argued that Mapeta negligently caused the death of both Chidyamatiyo and Charakupa as he was speeding.
The State also argued that Mapeta failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to stop or act reasonably when an accident seemed imminent.
Ms Masiye produced a Vehicle Inspection Department report that indicated that the vehicle was extensively damaged and consistent with a head-on collision.
This caused damage to the Toyota’s front suspension system, chassis, doors, bonnet, cab, sunroof and dashboard.
According to the report, the engine was dis-positioned, while there was also damage to the front axle, windshield, grill, radiator, battery, cab floor and front shocks.
Mapeta, who is on free bail, was remanded out of custody to June 15 when the State expects the investigating officer to testify.