adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
A truck driver who knocked down and killed Alderman Charles Mpofu, the former Bulawayo deputy mayor, appeared in court yesterday charged with culpable homicide.
Trust Lupondo, 34, of Upper Rangemore, also faces negligent driving and driving without a licence charges.Lupondo was driving a Ford truck carrying sand on Saturday when he rammed into a Nissan Sunny parked besides a road with Ald Mpofu and a friend inside.
Ald Mpofu, who was 55, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit but died the following day at around 9PM.
West Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso remanded Lupondo in custody to next week Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ald Mpofu’s brother and family spokesperson Patrick Zharare said the former councillor will be buried at his rural home in Matopo tomorrow.
At 2PM today, a funeral service will be held for him at Nketa 9 Brethren in Christ Church.
“After the service, his body will leave for burial at his rural home in Ndonjelana village in Matopo on Thursday,” he said.
The Bulawayo City Council has also said it will hold a special council meeting to pay tribute to Ald Mpofu. The meeting will be held at the Council Chambers at 11AM today.
Ald Mpofu has been described as a fearless man of action who worked tirelessly for his community.
He was born in Filabusi in 1959 and attended Filabusi Primary School before joining the liberation struggle in 1977. He served as a councillor for ward 25 in Nketa from 1991 to 2008.
Ald Mpofu has been a member of several parties — Zanu-PF, MDC-T, MDC, Zapu and United People’s Party. He also served as an independent councillor for Nketa.
During his term of office in council, Ald Mpofu served on the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee; the Executive Committee (now General Purposes Committee); Finance; Health; and chaired the Housing and Education committees.
He was elevated to the status of Alderman through a council resolution in August 2001 in recognition of his eminent civic and public service. Ald Mpofu is survived by wife, Siphelile, and three children.
Mourners are gathered at his Nketa 9 home.
Online Reporter