The accused pleaded guilty to the charges of causing death and injuries by reckless driving.
The First Grade Magistrate's Court sitting at Nkhunga in Nkhotakota on Friday, October 22, 2021, ordered a 49-year-old driver, Mackson Mkwatamwambo to pay a fine of 800 thousand kwacha or in default serve 24 months years jail term after being found guilty of reckless driving and killing two people in the process.
State prosecutor from Central East Regional Police Headquarters, Sergeant Edwin Wala told the court that the accident happened in the afternoon of October 7, 2021, at Nsenjere Bridge along Dwangwa -Nkhotakota M5 road.
Wala added that, on the fateful day, the said driver was driving motor vehicle registration BP 8919 Isuzu Van and he was heading towards Nkhotakota from Dwangwa with four passengers on board. Upon arrival at the said single lane bridge, he collided with a Freightliner truck which was finishing crossing the bridge. Eventually, his vehicle fell into the river.
Following the impact, all the passengers sustained various degrees of injury.
The matter was reported to Nkhotakota Police Station where police officers rushed to the scene and took the victims to Nkhotakota District Hospital. Sadly, two passengers, Mark Banda and Donex Mombera died on arrival at the said hospital due to head injuries.
The other two passengers sustained minor body injuries and were treated at same hospital.
The driver was arrested and charged with offences of causing death and injuries by reckless driving contrary to section 126 of the Road Traffic Act.
Appearing before First Grade Magistrate Kingsley Blair, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges of causing death and injuries by reckless driving.
In submission, prosecutor Sergeant Edwin Wala prayed with the court to give a deterrent sentence saying road accidents are surging in the region.
In mitigation, Mkwatamwambo asked the court to give lenient punishment saying he is a breadwinner for his family.
Passing sentence, Blair agreed with state's submissions saying many lives are lost through reckless driving. He therefore ordered the convict to pay a fine of 500, 000 kwacha for the count of causing deaths by reckless driving or in default to serve 24 months jail term and 300, 000 kwacha for causing injuries by reckless driving or in default to serve 12 months jail term.
Mkwatamwambo comes from Fulatira village, traditional authority Makwangwala in Ntcheu district.