Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – In a move that was interpreted by many as a desperate attempt to evade justice, a man who is facing charges of culpable homicide and driving without a licence, got possessed by a spirit soon after walking into the courtroom.
Accompanied by a police officer, Moses Blackwatch of House Number 7159 B Western Triangle, Highfields in Harare, began to behave strangely; refusing to sit on the court bench and opting to sit on the floor while taking his snuff (bute).
While in the dock, the ‘possessed’ Blackwatch frequently interrupted the court interpreter, Vimbai Ngazimbi.
“Taura nechivanhu,chirumbi handichinzwi. Ndoda kutora zororo musana wangu unorwadza. Pazvakaitika zvetsaona ndaivapo handizivi kuti vanhu vanoda kuchiurayirei chizukuru changu ichi. Ndezvekushina chete chete hapana nyanya, kwandabva kunopisa,” interjected Blackwatch.
After noticing the inconsistencies in his statements, magistrate Honest Musiiwa postponed the case. When the case returned to court on Wednesday, a soberly Blackwatch pleaded guilty to driving without a licence but denied the culpable homicide charge.
He was remanded in custody to a later date for continuation of trial.
It is the State’s case that on July 26, 2017, at around 20:20 hours, Blackwatch drove a Kings Bus Company passenger coach towards Sango border post.
At the 42 km peg, there was a Toyota Corolla parked on the left side of the road, with the now deceased Rumbidzai Mupinga and four others standing behind the car.
The unlicenced driver then lost control of the bus and it veered off the road, hit the corolla and knocked down Mupinga who sustained severe injuries and died on her way to hospital.
The court further heard that when Blackwatch was assked to produce his driver’s license, he misrepresented himself and produced the one belonging to one Mandiyambira Joaz.
After some investigations, the police discovered that Blackwatch did not possess any driver’s licence.
Willard Chasi prosecuted.court.
