adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
AN MDC-T councillor has been arrested for allegedly causing an accident while driving without a driver’s licence. Bulawayo’s Ward 22 Councillor Thobani Ncube, 28, of Nkulumane suburb was arrested after a vehicle he was driving was involved in an accident opposite Bulawayo State House. Ncube appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso facing a negligent driving charge and another of driving without a driver’s licence.
Chimiso postponed the trial indefinitely after ruling that Ncube who sustained a broken arm and was walking with the aid of a crutch, was not fit to stand trial. Prosecuting, Tony Kamudyariwa said on Friday last week, at around 7PM, Ncube was driving a Nissan Hardbody along Victoria Falls road.
He said while opposite Bulawayo State House, Ncube encroached onto the right lane resulting in a head-on collision. “All the passengers who were in his vehicle suffered minor injuries and were referred to Mpilo Central Hospital where they were treated and discharged,” Kamudyariwa said.
After the accident, it was discovered that Ncube was not a holder of a driver’s licence, the court heard. Meanwhile, a Choppies employee, who hit a four-year-old child with his car while he was chasing an alleged thief, was yesterday convicted of negligent driving and failure to stop after an accident. Blessing Maphosa, 28, of Bellevue hit the minor in the presence of a police officer identified in court as Pretty Gadzai, in Entumbane suburb.
Magistrate Chimiso fined Maphosa $300 or three months in jail for the negligent driving charge and $100 or 30 days in jail for failing to stop after an accident. Prosecutor Kamudyariwa told the court that on June 23, at around 2PM, Maphosa was driving a Toyota Hiace chasing a thief who had stolen from Entumbane Choppies store.
He said Maphosa picked a police officer to help him chase the alleged thief. “Maphosa drove for about 50 metres and made a U-turn at a corner. He hit the four-year-old child who was crossing the road,” Kamudyariwa said. After hitting the child, the court heard, Maphosa continued chasing the thief instead of stopping and rendering first aid.
“He later returned when the child had already been taken to hospital,” he said.
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