Report by Andwatch Mambo and Nompumelelo Muyambiri
There is no joy for a Domboshava man who is being haunted by homicide charges emanating from a 2017 cycling accident. Sydney Matope (23) is appearing before Harare magistrate Richard Rama for ontravening section 49 (a) of the Criminal law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 after the now deceased Bothwell Kamuzinga from Chief Chinhamora village succumbed to head injuries and died as a result of the accident.
Prosecuting Isheanesu Mhiti alleges that on May 24, 2017 at around 1805 hours, Matope was riding a bicycle along Harare Makumbe Road towards Makumbe, a tarred road but the visibility was poor as it was getting dark. On approaching 34km peg, Matope hit Kamuzinga who was crossing the road.
Kamuzinga fell hard on the tar together with Matope who also fell from his bicycle landing on the other end of the road.
The now deceased sustained head injuries while Matope only bruised his head and had a little swelling of the forehead as a result.
Kamuzinga was rushed to Chinamhora Clinic where he was treated and transferred to Makumbe hospital.
The court heard that he, Kamuzinga, succumbed to head injuries and died before he reached the referral hospital.
Matope was allegedly negligent by failing to keep a proper look out of the road ahead, failing to stop or act reasonably when an accident seemed imminent, travelling at an excessive speed in the circumstances and failing to ring his bell.
