Man sentenced to 6 months in prison for fatally hitting cyclist with vehicle
In a tragic incident, a 35-year-old man from King George V1 Centre in Bulawayo has been sentenced to six months in prison after running over and causing the death of a cyclist with his vehicle.
Farai Mabhande pleaded guilty to the charge of culpable homicide before Bulawayo magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa.
During the sentencing, the magistrate took into account Mabhande’s guilty plea and the fact that he was a first-time offender, which warranted leniency.
The court also considered that the offender provided financial assistance to the bereaved family. As a result, Mabhande was ordered to pay a fine of US$300, due on or before February 29, or face three months’ imprisonment.
The remaining three months of his sentence were suspended for five years on the condition of good behaviour.
According to the court proceedings, the incident occurred on October 19, 2022, at approximately 4 pm. Mabhande was driving a white Nissan NP200 along 12th Avenue extension with no passengers in the vehicle when he collided with cyclist Joshua Ndlovu, who tragically lost his life at the scene.
The collision resulted in damage to the vehicle’s bumper, bonnet, and windscreen. The post-mortem report indicated that Ndlovu’s death was a result of hypovolemic shock, pulmonary laceration, and the road traffic accident.
