Motorist demands compensation

A Harare motorist is demanding almost US$13 000 from the Harare City Council and Transport ministry in damages after his vehicle fell into an unmarked ditch.

Rodrick Hahlani’s vehicle fell into a ditch somewhere in Belgravia suburb in February after he hit a heap of soil which was left by the roadside, with no barricade tape surrounding the trench.

Hahlani sustained injuries on his head and mouth from the impact.

He has written to Transport minister Felix Mhona and the City of Harare through his lawyer Idirashe Chikomba of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) demanding compensation.

Council was given 14 days to respond or face legal action.

He stated that the City of Harare and Transport ministry have a statutory duty to protect members of the public from such accidents by covering trenches and erecting warning signs and barricades.

Hahlani is demanding US$9 000 to replace his BMW vehicle, US$3 750 as damages for loss of income as he was impeded from carrying out his day to day business and US$135 as costs of towing his damaged car from the accident scene. —