Unlicensed Driver Jailed 30 Months, Banned for Life Over Fatal Crash

 

A 23-year-old Glen View man has been sentenced to an effective 30 months in prison and banned from driving for life after he was convicted of culpable homicide and driving without a valid licence following a fatal road accident.

Munashe Costa Matete appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court on charges of culpable homicide and driving without a valid Zimbabwean driver's licence.

The court heard that on May 1, 2026, Matete was driving a Volvo along Bishop Gaul Road in Harare when he veered into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a Nissan Dayz.

Both drivers and a passenger sustained serious injuries. The passenger later died while receiving treatment at Avenues Clinic.

In convicting Matete, the court found that he had failed to keep a proper lookout, drove at an excessive speed for the prevailing conditions, failed to take reasonable action to avoid the collision, and did not maintain proper control of the vehicle.

The court also heard that Matete did not possess a valid Zimbabwean driver's licence at the time of the crash.

On the culpable homicide charge, he was sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, leaving an effective 24-month prison term.

He was also permanently disqualified from driving.

For driving without a valid licence, Matete received an additional six months' imprisonment, to run consecutively, bringing his effective sentence to 30 months in prison.