Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A 39-year old unlicensed bus driver who recently caused a scene at the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court by purporting to be possessed by some spirits was at it again last week when he boldly claimed that he was unable to read and write.
He also told the court that he no longer remembered his age which he said only his wife knew.
Moses Blackwatch of House Number 7159 B Western Triangle, Highfields in Harare appeared in the court on a charge of culpable homicide after he got involved in an accident while driving a bus.
He initially pleaded not guilty to the culpable homicide charge but admitted to driving without a licence. On his reappearance, he pleaded guilty to both charges.
For driving without a licence, magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced Blackwatch to six months behind bars and to five months for culpable homicide.
Blackwatch said he was illiterate and did not even know that the drivers’ licence he carried bore somebody else’s name.
“I am not able to read and write. When I was issued with a fake licence, I did not even notice that it bore somebody else’s name. I didn’t know even my age until my wife told me,” said Blackwatch.
The court heard that on July 26, last year at around 20:20 hrs, Blackwatch was driving a Kings Bus Company passenger coach towards Sango border post.
There was, however, a Toyota Corolla parked on the left side of the road close to the 42 km peg, with the now deceased Rumbidzai Mupinga and four others standing behind the car.
The unlicensed driver lost control of the bus and veered off the road, hitting the corolla and knocking down Mupinga who sustained severe injuries. She died on her way to Neshuro District Hospital.
When Blackwatch was asked to produce his driver’s license, he misrepresented himself by producing one Mandiyambira Joaz’s licence.
Willard Chasi appeared for the State.court
