adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
A Botswana-based lawyer allegedly fatally knocked down two pedestrians who were trying to cross a road at Wida Business Centre on the outskirts of Gweru along the Bulawayo-Harare highway. Anthony Manenji, of Area S, Francistown, Botswana appeared before Gweru Magistrate, Musaiwona Shotgame, facing one count of culpable homicide.
Manenji pleaded not guilty and the magistrate remanded him out of custody to September 1 on free bail.
In his defence Manenji said the pedestrians were visibly drunk and crossed the road without due care.
“Your worship, the deceased didn’t check the road before crossing as they appeared drunk. Furthermore they were holding hands and were pulling each other backward and forward. I tried applying brakes but the car couldn’t stop at a short distance,” said Manenji.
A State witness Sininisenkosi Mpofu said the two men were not drunk.
She said Manenji was speeding and overtaking another vehicle at high speed.
“The two deceased were not drunk and it’s not true that they never checked the road before crossing. Actually Manenji was speeding and he overtook cars that were in front of his without realising that there were pedestrians crossing the road, ” she said.
Prosecutor, Bernard Nyoni, told the court that on April 18, Manenji was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero with Botswana number plates along Harare- Bulawayo road heading towards Bulawayo.
He said Manenji had three passengers in his car.
“Manenji fatally hit Sibonginkosi Ncube and Limukani Ndonga who were pulling each other backward and forward whilst on the road,” said Nyoni.
He said Ndonga died on the spot and Ncube died on admission to Gweru Provincial Hospital leading to Manenji’s arrest.
Online Reporter