Court fines Lotto driver for causing death
The Mzimba first grade magistrate court has fined Dokiso Shaba 27 to pay a fine of K 160, 000 or serve 36 months IHL in default for causing death due to reckless driving.
He has since paid the fine.
Shaba, an adopted son of Dr Mary Shaba top civil servant, comes from Kayuni Nyathi village, T/A Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba district.
Police prosecutor Henry Mkweche told the court that Shaba who works for National Lottery Company as a driver caused the death of Tryness Munthali 28 from Ng’oma village T/A Mkumbira in Nkhata-bay district and Ruth Zimba 27 of Chibo village T/A M’mbelwa in Mzimba district.
Mkweche said on 27 April this year Shaba, while driving from Raiply trading centre got involved in a road accident at Kazomba after he had lost control of the vehicle due to over speeding.
The accident led to the death of the two afore-mentioned deceased who were working for the company as sales agents before they met their fate.
Mkweche therefore called for a stiffer punishment saying life has been lost which could have well been prevented had it been that the driver was not cruising.
Passing his sentence, first grade magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda concurred with the state prosecutor saying reckless driving has been one of the major causes of road accidents in Malawi.
He said besides that, the deceased were mothers, wives and had dependents that looked to them for their daily needs.
Chakaka, therefore, sentenced the accused to pay K160, 000 fine with K100, 000 shared between the two deceased family members as compensation and K 60, 000 channelled to government.
In mitigation, Shaba pleaded with the court for leniency saying he was the sole bread winner for his family and that he was paying school fees for his siblings.
Many people have been calling for tougher sentences for drivers who kill.
They argued that drivers in some cases were not being sufficiently punished.
