Kombi driver jailed for overloading 35 pupils during school run

A 42-year-old kombi driver has been sentenced to four months in prison after he was caught transporting an excessive number of pupils during a school run.

Kumbulani Tauzeni appeared before the Mbare Magistrates' Court on Monday facing several charges, including overloading passengers and operating without the required driving documentation.

The court heard that Tauzeni was driving a public service vehicle that was also deemed unroadworthy when he was arrested along Amalinda Road while travelling to a school in Glen Norah.

Magistrates found Tauzeni guilty on all counts and sentenced him to four months in prison. However, he was given the option to pay a total fine of US$400 to avoid serving the custodial sentence.

For failing to possess a valid defensive driving certificate and a driver's medical certificate issued by the General Medical Office (GMO), Tauzeni was fined US$100 for each offence or faced 30 days in prison for each charge.

On the charge of overloading passengers, the court heard that Tauzeni was carrying 35 pupils and three teachers, far exceeding the permitted capacity of the kombi. He was fined US$200 or faced an additional 60 days behind bars.

Investigations revealed that Tauzeni had been conducting a school transport service from Fidelity Park to Kudakwashe Primary School in Glen Norah B.

Authorities have continued to warn transport operators against overloading and operating vehicles without proper certification, stressing that such practices endanger the lives of passengers, especially school children.