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Drunk bus driver jailed, banned for life
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A Bulawayo bus driver has been sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and permanently banned from driving public service and heavy motor vehicles after he was caught transporting 50 passengers while heavily intoxicated.
Newtan Marova (47), of Nkulumane suburb, pleaded guilty before Plumtree Magistrate Busani Sibanda to driving with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his blood, in contravention of Section 54(2) of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11].
In addition to the jail term, the court permanently disqualified Marova from driving commuter omnibuses and all heavy motor vehicles.
He was also prohibited from driving any other class of motor vehicle for one year and ordered to surrender his driver's licence for immediate cancellation.
Passing sentence, Magistrate Sibanda said Marova's conduct had placed the lives of his passengers and other road users at significant risk.
"What makes the offender's case particularly serious is that he was driving a bus carrying 50 passengers. One can only imagine the risk to which he exposed all these lives," the magistrate said.
"He also endangered the lives of other road users. His conduct demonstrated a complete disregard for the responsibility expected of skilled drivers. These circumstances required him to be removed from our roads."
The court said a deterrent sentence was necessary to discourage motorists from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"There is need to punish this kind of conduct. The offender was careless, to say the least, in failing to act as a responsible member of society. The courts expect drivers to refrain from driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs," Sibanda said.
He added that road traffic accidents continue to claim lives, deprive families of breadwinners and place a heavy burden on the nation.
In mitigation, Marova asked the court for leniency, saying he was a first-time offender and the father of two children aged six and 10.
"Your Worship, I am truly sorry for driving under the influence of alcohol and putting the lives of my passengers at risk," he told the court.
Prosecutor Fezile Mpofu said the offence occurred on June 19, 2026, at about 4:30am, when Marova was driving an AVM bus carrying 50 passengers along the Bulawayo–Solusi Road towards Solusi.
Police officers at a roadblock near the 39-kilometre peg became suspicious of his behaviour and subjected him to a breathalyser test.
The test, conducted using an AT9000 breathalyser, recorded an alcohol concentration of 149 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
The reading was nearly double the legal limit for ordinary motorists and well above the zero-tolerance requirement for public service vehicle drivers under the Road Traffic Act.
A printed copy of the breathalyser result was produced in court as evidence.
Newtan Marova (47), of Nkulumane suburb, pleaded guilty before Plumtree Magistrate Busani Sibanda to driving with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his blood, in contravention of Section 54(2) of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11].
In addition to the jail term, the court permanently disqualified Marova from driving commuter omnibuses and all heavy motor vehicles.
He was also prohibited from driving any other class of motor vehicle for one year and ordered to surrender his driver's licence for immediate cancellation.
Passing sentence, Magistrate Sibanda said Marova's conduct had placed the lives of his passengers and other road users at significant risk.
"What makes the offender's case particularly serious is that he was driving a bus carrying 50 passengers. One can only imagine the risk to which he exposed all these lives," the magistrate said.
"He also endangered the lives of other road users. His conduct demonstrated a complete disregard for the responsibility expected of skilled drivers. These circumstances required him to be removed from our roads."
The court said a deterrent sentence was necessary to discourage motorists from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"There is need to punish this kind of conduct. The offender was careless, to say the least, in failing to act as a responsible member of society. The courts expect drivers to refrain from driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs," Sibanda said.
He added that road traffic accidents continue to claim lives, deprive families of breadwinners and place a heavy burden on the nation.
In mitigation, Marova asked the court for leniency, saying he was a first-time offender and the father of two children aged six and 10.
"Your Worship, I am truly sorry for driving under the influence of alcohol and putting the lives of my passengers at risk," he told the court.
Prosecutor Fezile Mpofu said the offence occurred on June 19, 2026, at about 4:30am, when Marova was driving an AVM bus carrying 50 passengers along the Bulawayo–Solusi Road towards Solusi.
Police officers at a roadblock near the 39-kilometre peg became suspicious of his behaviour and subjected him to a breathalyser test.
The test, conducted using an AT9000 breathalyser, recorded an alcohol concentration of 149 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
The reading was nearly double the legal limit for ordinary motorists and well above the zero-tolerance requirement for public service vehicle drivers under the Road Traffic Act.
A printed copy of the breathalyser result was produced in court as evidence.
Source - The Herald
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