LUPANE — A Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund employee, who was involved in an accident which killed one of the passengers in her car, was on Friday fined $300 for culpable homicide.
Mildred Magara (age not given) was involved in an accident along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road in November last year.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge of culpable homicide when she appeared before Lupane magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba.
However, the magistrate convicted and fined her $300 to be paid on or before August 10, failure of which she would serve 30 days in jail.
At the close of the state case last month, Magara applied for discharge which the court dismissed, arguing there was an element of negligence in her driving, as she was said to be speeding when the accident occurred.
Denying the charges and applying for discharge, Magara argued that allegations against her were unsubstantiated and speculative. She denied driving at an excessive speed.
Prosecutor Sanders Sibanda told the court that on November 18 last year, Magara was driving a Peugeot 306 station wagon from Victoria Falls towards Bulawayo with two passengers Regina Mubikwa Mandiringa and Bongai Kepekepe on board.
On approaching the 158km peg, she hit a bird and lost control of the vehicle which then veered off the road and overturned three times.
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Mandiringa sustained serious injuries and died on the spot, while Magara and Kepekepe sustained minor injuries.
Magara was later summoned to court to face a charge of culpable homicide.
