A 34-YEAR-OLD commuter omnibus conductor was on Wednesday sentenced to four years in jail by Marondera magistrate Gibson Mandaza for driving a vehicle without a licence.
WADZANAI MADHIBHA
Ranganayi Mazhambe of Chitungwiza admitted to the charge of driving without a licence and is yet to plead for charges of homicide.
The court heard that on December 27 2011, Mazhambe, knowing that he was not a holder of a valid licence, drove a Toyota Hiace vehicle registration number APS 5414 along Harare-Wedza road with 15 passengers on board.
Mazhambe was speeding and he was involved in an accident that killed three passengers.
Prosecutor Emanuel Dera, who was representing the State, asked for a stiffer jail term, saying that it resulted to loss of life.
He said Mazhambe never showed remorse to the families of the deceased since he did not attend the burial of any of the departed, showing that he did not value human life.
In mitigation, Mazhambe said he did not have a licence, but knew how to drive.
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He said because of the high unemployment rate in the country, he was forced to grab the opportunity to drive to enable him fend for his family. The magistrate, however, dismissed the claims, saying that passengers were losing their lives due to people who drove without a licence, hence the court had to send clear message to would-be offenders.
