Chronicle Editor
Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
A Motorist from Bulawayo’s Nketa 9 suburb has been arrested for allegedly hitting and injuring four pedestrians in a hit and run accident.
Ray Thandazani Ndebele (27) yesterday appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing charges of negligent driving, failure to stop after an accident and failure to report an accident within 24 hours.
He was convicted on his own plea on all the counts and remanded to today for sentence.
Prosecuting, Ms Memory Ndlovu said Ndebele hit Mr Pamire Mpofu, his wife Ms Thandiwe Masaire, Mr Blessing Manyewe and Mr Taboka Tshuma in February this year as they were walking on the side of the road in Nketa 9 around 7PM.
“On February 4, at around 7PM along Nketa 7 road near Maranatha turn off, the accused negligently drove a red Isuzu vehicle with registration number ABY 4820 and ran over the four complainants, thereby injuring them,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
The prosecutor said Ms Masaire was admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for five days while the other three were treated and discharged at Mpilo Central Hospital.
The court heard that Ms Masaire sustained internal injuries and lost two teeth as a result of the accident.
One of the accident victims Mr Tshuma said Ndebele’s vehicle lights were off and he failed to negotiate a turn and hit Mr Mpofu and his wife before hitting him and Mr Manyewe.
He said Ndebele sped from the scene.
“I was walking with my two friends. As we were along Maranatha turn off, we heard a loud bang. We looked back to see what it was and realised that two people had been hit by a car,” said Mr Tshuma.
“As we kept looking, the same car approached us, with its lights off and hit two of us while my other friend escaped. The driver fled from the scene and we were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital.”
Mrs Ndlovu said the matter was reported to the police when Mr Manyewe identified the car at a tavern in Nketa 7.
@NyarieBakie
Online Reporter