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Temba Dube Deputy News Editor
AN unlicensed commuter omnibus driver who caused an accident that claimed three lives and supplied a false name to the police, has been jailed for an effective 42 months in prison.
Trevor Mpofu, 24, drove through a give way sign and collided with a truck near Konron Supermarket in Lobengula West on April 16, 2015.
He gave police a copy of his uncle’s licence and claimed to be Michael Ndlovu.
Thubelihle Maphosa, Belina Ncube and Mandy Siwela died in the accident.
Mpofu appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Chipuma Dube facing charges of culpable homicide, supplying false information to a public officer and driving without a licence.
He pleaded not guilty to culpable homicide but was convicted on all three counts.
In passing sentence, magistrate Dube said Mpofu was a dangerous person who deserved to be banned from driving for life.
“For the first charge of culpable homicide, you’re sentenced to 36 months in prison, of which six months will be suspended for five years, on condition that you don’t commit a similar crime within the period,” said Dube.
She sentenced Mpofu to six months in prison for supplying false information to the police and jailed him for nine months for driving without a licence.
Dube conditionally suspended three of the nine months for five years.
In his warned and cautioned statement, Mpofu said he duped the kombi owner into hiring him by lying he had a licence.
He said he called his uncle, Michael Ndlovu, and lied to him that he had secured a job for him as a driver at Schweppes.
“I asked him to send a copy of his licence on WhatsApp and I printed and laminated it,” admitted Mpofu.
He said he was involved in the fatal accident a week after being employed by the kombi owner.
Prosecuting, Kenneth Shava told the court that after the accident, Mpofu gave police Ndlovu’s licence and claimed it was his.
The court heard how Mpofu’s plan blew up in his face when the real Michael Ndlovu arrived at the station.
Shava said Ndlovu had been tipped off by relatives that his nephew was using his licence unlawfully.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo has hailed the courts for meting out an “exemplary sentence” on Mpofu.
“As police, we’re pleased, we think it’s deterrent and is sending the right message to criminals, especially those who drive without licences,” said Insp Moyo.
He said the number of accidents recorded in Bulawayo during the first half of last year had increased by 109 for the same period this year.
Insp Moyo attributed the increase to unlicensed drivers.
“Last year, we recorded 1,652 accidents and this year we’ve 1,751. A majority of people involved in accidents are unlicensed,” said the police spokesperson.
He said drivers without licences often fled from accident scenes and appealed to members of the public to continue working with police to expose them and bring them to justice.
“As we speak, we’re looking for the driver of a blue kombi that fatally struck Darlington Nyerukai, 27, of Cowdray Park suburb along Luveve Road on May 15,” said Insp Moyo.
“We’re also still hunting for the driver of a vehicle that knocked down two police officers near Engen Garage in Nkulumane and left them hospitalised,” he added.
Insp Moyo urged members of the public to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects and commended them for testifying in Mpofu’s case.
“If we continue working together like this, safety of residents in the city will be assured. Anyone with information can contact the police hotline number 09-885479 or Netone toll-free number 110 or their nearest police station,” he said.
Online Reporter