A COMMUTER omnibus operator, Fortune Ganha, whose vehicle was involved in a fatal accident in which 10 lives were lost on Monday this week, has been charged for permitting an unqualified driver, Chenengeta Musiiwa, to use his public service vehicle.
CHARLES LAITON
Ganha of New Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza, was summoned by the police on Thursday for the recording of a warned-and-cautioned statement at the Harare Central Police Station traffic section.
He was charged with contravening Section 4 (a) of Statutory Instrument 168/2006 Road Traffic Regulations 2006 (permitting a driver to drive as public service vehicle without any written proof of continuous driving for five years prior to driving a public service vehicle) which resulted in the fatal road traffic accident that claimed 10 lives.
In his response to the allegations Ganha said: “I deny the charges in toto; I never gave Musiiwa the ignition keys for the said motor vehicle or any authority to drive that motor vehicle as alleged at all. I reserve the right to add or amend my defence in a court of law when the charges are read to me.”
The accident occurred at around 11am along Seke Road near Trek Service Station.
Ten people were killed, seven of them on the spot, while six others were seriously injured when the vehicle veered off the road and rammed into a tree just after the service station.
Ganha’s lawyer Tungamirai Chakurira told NewsDay yesterday that his client did not permit the late Musiiwa to use the vehicle since it was parked at the garage where it was undergoing repairs.
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“The vehicle was not fit for use, but Musiiwa, being my client’s nephew, took the keys from his uncle’s house and went on to collect a friend after which they proceeded to ferry passengers without my client’s consent,” Chakurira said.
“It would appear the late Musiiwa had been doing that for some time, but was not caught until the fateful day. We went to the police yesterday [Thursday] and we were advised the matter would proceed by way of summons.”
