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Senior Court Reporter
A commuter omnibus driver has been ordered to pay US$100 fine or risk going to prison for 10 days after he sped off without paying a US$2 toll gate fee. Isaiah Masungo (29) had been stopped by a Zimbabwe National Roads Administration official at Shamva tollgate since his vehicle had no licence.
In a bid to evade paying US$40 fine, Masungo sped off without paying the toll gate fee. Masungo pleaded guilty to “passing through a tollgate without paying a toll fee” when he appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Mr Mahwe said: “The court took into consideration that you are a first offender and it is the policy of the court to keep first offenders out of custody, however, your moral blameworthiness is high as you chose to pass through the tollgate without paying hence you should be punished. Pay US$100 fine forthwith or risk going to prison for 10 days.” The prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbira told the court that on November 17, Masungo was driving a Toyota Hiace along Enterprise Road. As he approached the Shamva toll gate, he was stopped by a Zinara official, Simpson Mandizha since his vehicle had no licence.
He was ordered to pay US$40 fine, but Masungo said that he did not have the money. He was ordered to pull off the road and he complied.
Upon noticing that Mandizha was attending to other clients, Masungo got out of his vehicle and removed the barricade and sped off. He was was arrested at the same tollgate the following day.
Online Reporter