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Court Reporter
MDC-T national executive member and former Harare mayor Engineer Elias Mudzuri has taken his 19-year-old nephew to court for stealing his vehicle and taking it for a joyride before damaging it in an accident.Kudakwashe Mudzuri of Milton Park in Harare appeared in court facing charges of unlawful contact or use of vehicle, driving without a driver’s licence and negligent driving.
The younger Mudzuri pleaded guilty to the three counts and magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa deferred judgment and sentencing to today.
Prosecutor Mrs Barbra Ndoro told the court that on December 22 last year, Kudakwashe stole the car keys of a Toyota Fortuner (registration number ABE 9516) belonging to Eng Mudzuri.
This was after his uncle had travelled to his rural home in Zaka for the festive season, leaving his property — including cars — in the custody of a domestic worker.
Kudakwashe, who does not hold a valid driver’s licence, drove the Fortuner without Eng Mudzuri’s consent. While joyriding, Kudakwashe sped along the Harare-Bulawayo Road and was involved in an accident at Petrotrade Service Station after the vehicle veered off the road.
The following day Eng Mudzuri was informed by his gardener that the vehicle, worth US$40 000, had been rendered a write-off in the accident.
Eng Mudzuri instructed the gardener to report the matter to the police. Mrs Ndoro told the court that Kudakwashe drove at excessive speeds, failed to keep a proper look- out of the road ahead, and failed to stop or act reasonably when a collision seemed imminent.
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