Harare, (New Ziana) – A court ruling that sentenced an unlicensed Chinhoyi driver to 360 hours of community service after he fatally struck a pedestrian and injured four others has sparked widespread outrage, with the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) leading the charge in condemning what it called a “shocking miscarriage of justice.”
A 20-year-old Chinhoyi man was handed a 24-month sentence by the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court following a fatal road accident when he negligently plunged into five pedestrians whilst driving an unroadworthy motor vehicle.
One of the victims died upon admission at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital due to severe head injuries, while four others sustained various injuries.
The offender fled the scene after the accident and police investigations confirmed that he had no valid driver’s licence at the time of the accident.
It was also established that he was negligent in that he failed to look out, and control the car when the accident happened. His vehicle was also unroadworthy.
The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 24 months behind bars with six months of the sentence suspended for three years, while the remaining 18 months were suspended on the condition that he performs 360 hours of community service.
However, in a strongly worded statement, PAZ described the ruling as “woefully inadequate” and “deeply unjust.”
“We are appalled by a justice system that seems to prioritize the perpetrator over the victims, effectively rendering the latter invisible and voiceless. This ruling perpetuates the notion that the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly the vulnerable, are of little value,” said PAZ national coordinator Tafadzwa Golaiti.
Zimbabwe has long struggled with road safety, with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) citing poor enforcement of traffic laws and a rise in unroadworthy vehicles as key contributing factors to accidents.
PAZ is now calling for an immediate appeal of the ruling, as well as a broader review of how road traffic fatalities are prosecuted. The organization has urged the Ministry of Justice and Parliament to address what it terms “systemic failures” in the legal handling of road crimes.
“We demand a more just and equitable outcome that acknowledges the gravity of this tragic incident and holds the perpetrator accountable,” said Goliat.
New Ziana
