Minibus driver jailed 7 years for manslaughter

THE Lusaka High Court has sentenced a minibus driver to seven years imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter.

Before Judge Sharon Newa was Joseph Mumbi Zulu who pleaded with the court for lenience as he was a first offender who readily pleaded guilty to the charge.

Zulu said he was remorseful for his actions and would live a reformed life once given a second chance in society.

But Judge Newa said she considered mitigation and would pass a deterrent sentence of seven years in each count to run concurrently.

Facts before the court were that on May 29, 2015, Zulu was driving a Toyota Hiace minibus registration number ALH 4127 along Kafue Road from the northern to southern direction.

When he reached Kafue and Lumumba road junction, traffic lights gave a red signal but instead of stopping, Zulu drove in the opposite lane and consequently hit a pedestrian who was crossing the road.

He continued driving in the opposite lane used by vehicles heading into town and collided head-on with another Toyota Hiace minibus registration number ALX 2407 in the right lane.

The 3 persons Ceaser Ng’ambi, Felistus Mwanza and Joe Tembo, who were passengers aboard the minibus Zulu was driving, died at University Teaching Hospital. on June 1, 2015 due to injuries sustained in the accident, postmortem was conducted by Dr. V. Telendiy, a State forensic pathologist.

The causes of death for all the deceased persons were found to be heamorrhagic shock due to multiple blunt force injuries, subdural hemorrhage due to blunt head injury, and hemorrhagic shock due to road traffic accident respectively. Zulu caused the deaths of the three by his unlawful act.