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Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate says commuter omnibus drivers continue to break traffic laws owing to the light sentences they are given and that it is time deterrent measures were taken.
The magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, said cases of kombi drivers fleeing the police were on the increase.
He said this on Tuesday while sentencing Emmanuel Korovedzi (39), who was involved in an accident at the intersection of Prince Edward Street and Josiah Chinamano Avenue in Harare while trying to evade the police.
Korovedzai turned right in front of an oncoming Mazda MPV, resulting in a collision that seriously injured three people.
He was charged with contravening the Road Traffic Act and Mr Mahwe sentenced him to six months in prison and set aside two months for five years on condition he did not commit a similar offence within that period.
Mr Mahwe cancelled Korovedzai’s licence and barred him from driving light vehicles for six months and heavy vehicles and commuter omnibuses for two years.
“Cases of kombi drivers running away from the police are now cause for concern,” he said. “Non-custodial sentences are not achieving any goals to deter them. Something must be done to ensure sanity prevails on our roads.
“There are also no special circumstances provided by the accused person to stop the court from cancelling his licence.”
The prosecutor Mr Oscar Madhume said on May 7 Korovedzai was driving a kombi with 18 passengers aboard.
As he was fleeing police, he turned right in front of an on oncoming Mazda MPV which was being driven by Dzingai Chitakunye, resulting in a collision.
that left three people seriously injured.
Online Reporter