Chisenjere First Grade Magistrate court on Tuesday ordered a 36-year-old driver, Tiyankhulenji Chitseko to pay a fine of Mk600,000 for causing death by reckless driving contrary to section 126(4c) of Road Traffic Act.
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The Court heard through police prosecutor Davie Malithano that the accused committed the offence on 25thJanuary, 2023.
According to the state prosecutor, Chitseko was driving a motor vehicle registration number CZ 1479/CZ 4074 flat liner from the direction of Blantyre heading to Lunzu along Magalasi Dual Carriageway while carrying steel metal bars and flat sheets on its trailer.
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Upon arrival at Kameza Roundabout, he failed to negotiate the roundabout ring and proceeded to drive towards the overcrowded Chileka Bus stage hitting three female pedestrians before ramming into eight stationary vehicles.
Malithano further said that due to the impact, pedestrian Teleza Paulo, aged 40 of Chemusa Village, T/A Machinjiri in Blantyre died on the same spot while the rest were rushed to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
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During trial, Chitseko pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by reckless driving.
In his submission the state prosecutor, Malithano asked court to give a stiffer punishment as a warning to others since such cases were on the increase along the roads within Chileka.
Passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate George Chimombo concurred with the state and fined him Mk 600,000 of which Mk 300,000 would go to the relatives of deceased for compensation.
Chitseko hails from Imedi village, Traditional Authority Mpama in Chiradzulu District.