adminMasvingo Correspondent
A family from Rujeko suburb is demanding 12 head of cattle from a 24-year-old motorist, who killed their relative in a road accident in September last year.
The Mahuda family wants Kasipo Tafadzwa to compensate them with the beasts after his car knocked down and killed Mr Mushawakona Mahuda along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Highway.
Tafadzwa was driving towards Mbalabala, while Mahuda was walking towards Masvingo city when the tragic accident occurred. Testifying before a Masvingo magistrate’s court during Tafadzwa’s trial for negligent driving recently, Mr Mahuda’s son, James, said his family was still waiting for the compensation for their father’s death.
James told magistrate Mr Takawira Mugabe that although Tafadzwa had met all the funeral expenses after the death of his father, he had agreed to compensate them with cattle.
“He contributed to the funeral by providing food, transport and a coffin, but we are still waiting for him to give us 12 beasts, which our family court charged him as compensation for causing the death of their relative,’’ said James.
Mr Mugabe, who convicted Tafadzwa of negligent driving, said there was need for tough sentences to serve as a warning to negligent drivers, whom he said were now on the prowl along the country’s roads.
He fined Tafadzwa $200 or alternatively 50 days behind bars. Prosecutor Mr Mbonisi Mahachi told the court that on September 10 last year, Tafadzwa was driving towards Mbalabala with five passengers in his vehicle.
On approaching the 256-kilometre peg, he hit a pedestrian, the late Mr Mahuda, who was walking in the opposite direction.
Mr Mahuda fell and started bleeding before he was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where he died on admission as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
Online Reporter