Staff Reporter
The driver of a Crandid Investments fuel tanker involved in a horrific road traffic accident that claimed 12 lives near the Sebakwe River along the Harare-Bulawayo highway on 27 May 2025 was sentenced to 24months behind bars for culpable homicide when he appeared before Kwekwe Magistrates Mildre Matuvi on Wednesday.
Silas Mazipethela (49) was also slapped with a five-month jail term for negligent driving.
Magistrate Matuvi suspended six months on the culpable homicide charge on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
Mazipethela’s drivers’ licence was also cancelled.
Mazipethela of Mainway Meadows, Waterfalls, Harare, was driving the fuel-laden tanker on 27 May 2025 when he lost control of the vehicle in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming lorry. The tanker overturned and landed on top of an AD van carrying 12 passengers, killing all of them at the scene.
The deceased are, James Ncube (23) of Village 12, Sherwood; Emily Mpofu Mucheuki (25) of Plot 27, Sherwood; Reward Nyatsongo (28) of Village 7, Marivale; Farai Bisendi (47) of Mbizo 16; Emmanuel Mangomana (21); Maria Jasi (43) of Mbizo 16 Extension; Marvellous Mapanzure (20) and Joshua Muza (35), both of Indarama Mine; Sarudzai Moramasaka (26) of Alarm 2 Compound; Beauty Mudereki (52) of Sherwood; Violety Juja (40) of Mbizo; and Henly Mutambara (34) of Mbizo.
