PP’s Samson Msosa charged for causing death

Police in the eastern district of Mangochi have charged former ruling People’s Party (PP) top official Samson Msosa with seven counts for allegedly causing death by reckless driving on August 2 in the district.

Msosa, who is also the party’s Eastern Province chairperson, was dragged to court on suspicion that he hit and killed on spot a 72 year –old man, only identified as a Mr. Ndiche. Msosa is said to have hit the deceased at Samama, along the Monkey-Bay-Mangochi road before speeding away from the scene.

Instead of reporting the incident to the law enforcers, outspoken Msosa sped off and went ahead to hide his vehicle, registration number ZA 408.

But some witnesses who were on the scene of the accident alerted the police who consequently took him to task.

Mangochi Police spokesperson Rodrick Maida told the Daily Times that when they asked him about the accident, he denied by claiming that the damage to his car was due to a tree he had hit.

“But the damage to the car according to our findings cannot be associated with hitting a tree as he is claiming,” said Maida.

Meanwhile, the case has adjourned to August 22 following a request from the state, expected to parade five witnesses.

While pleading not guilty to five counts of the seven, Msosa pleaded guilty two counts—causing death by reckless driving contrary to Section 126 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, and failing to report an accident to officials within 24 hours contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Road Traffic Act.

The other counts are failure to render support to accident victim, removing a vehicle on the accident scene before the arrival of the police, failure to stop during an accident and driving a vehicle without an insurance cover and a valid vehicle certificate of fitness (COF).