VID manager fined

Munenzva bus conductor was yesterday fined US$150.
He was also slapped with a three-month jail term wholly suspended for three years. Richard Vuta (42), who was stationed at VID Belvedere Department, pleaded not guilty to bribery charges when his trial opened before Harare magistrate Ms Vongai Muchuchuti but was convicted after a full trial.
Ms Muchuchuti said by mounting a one-man roadblock Vuta’s intention was to take bribes from motorists.
She noted that Vuta negotiated with the bus crew for over 40 minutes and took the bus after negotiations had failed. The magistrate said she considered that Vuta was a first offender who was likely to lose his job saying that was a punishment itself.
She, however, said a message ought to be sent to members of public that such actions would not be tolerated. In aggravation Prosecutor Ms Francisca Mukumbiri had said Vuta’s moral blameworthiness was very high as he had worked for 23 years in the department and was a senior member hence he should have led by example.
“This case can be a highlight of what is transpiring nationwide and some accidents are being caused by officers, who were releasing unroadworthy vehicles after taking bribes,” she said. She called for a stiffer penalty that would deter would be offenders.
The complainant in the matter is Mr Regis Munenzwa. It was proved that sometime in December last year a Munenzwa bus left Mbare for Kana Mission in Gokwe without a valid route permit while the driver also did not have a licence. Vuta asked for the bribe when he stopped the bus in Belvedere.