adminBlessing Ngadha (28), of 14 Fitzgerald, North End, despite being waved down to stop at a roadblock near Headquarters One Brigade, accelerated, hit a drum used by police and sped towards the city centre where he went on to hit another car.
The accident occurred on 1 November last year and the policeman, Raymond Makaya, who was attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) died 10 days later as a result of injuries he sustained.
Ngadha, who was employed by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) as a signals technician, was facing a charge of culpable homicide and that of reckless driving.
He was convicted on his plea of guilty when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Tuesday.
On the first count of culpable homicide, Ngadha was sentenced to 30 months in prison but will serve an effective 18 months after the magistrate suspended 12 months for five years on condition he does not commit an offence involving negligence within that period.
For reckless driving, Ngadha was sentenced to pay a fine of $200 or six months. He was given up to 27 June this year to pay.
In addition, the magistrate prohibited Ngadha from driving any vehicle for 24 months and also to surrender his drivers’ licence to the Clerk of Court.
The State’s case was that on 1 November last year, Ngadha approached the roadblock driving a Mazda Familia vehicle along the Bulawayo-Harare Road near the One Brigade Headquarters.
He was waved to stop but he accelerated his car whereupon he hit a drum before hitting Makaya.
Makaya landed on the ground with impact and sustained serious injuries.
Ngadha then sped off towards the city centre, but hit another car driven by Mr Richard Kufahakuzwi near River of Life Church.
Police gave chase and arrested him when he was trying to flee from the scene of the accident.
Makaya died while admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) intensive care unit while the two vehicles were also extensively damaged.
Sentencing Ngadha, the magistrate considered that the degree of negligence was gross and that the roadblock he undermined was properly constituted and had a “police ahead” sign about 60 metres away.
She said the offence was aggravated by the fact that Ngadha did not stop after hitting the drum. However, the court considered that he was a first offender.
Online Reporter