A 42-year-old kombi driver, Wellington Ngona, has been sentenced to three years in prison for culpable homicide following a tragic crash that claimed eight lives last year.
The Mbare Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence after hearing that on 31 October 2024, at around 5:30 AM, Ngona was driving a Toyota Hiace carrying 13 passengers when he attempted to turn right onto Bulawayo Road from the Harare–Bulawayo intersection.
His vehicle was struck by a haulage tanker travelling straight through the intersection, causing the kombi to overturn.
Five passengers died immediately upon arrival at Sally Mugabe Hospital, while three others succumbed to their injuries later at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Investigations showed that Ngona was negligent, failing to keep a proper lookout and not taking reasonable action to avoid the collision.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a lifetime driving ban on Ngona for kombis and heavy vehicles.
He was also suspended from driving any other motor vehicle for six months.
