Malayitsha jailed for driving without licence

A ZIMBABWEAN goods transporter based in South Africa, popularly known as umalayitsha, will spend this year's Christmas in jail after being convicted of driving without a licence.

Ezra Mpofu (36) was sentenced to six months imprisonment but will, however, spend an effective four months in jail after Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe suspended two months for three years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the same period.

Mpofu was stopped by traffic police on Tuesday while driving a Toyota Quantum along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway with 15 passengers on board.

When he was asked to produce a licence, Mpofu told the police he did not have one and he was subsequently arrested.

In mitigation, Mpofu pleaded for a non-custodial sentence saying he had driven the vehicle after the driver indicated that he was feeling sleepy.

He said he had gone for driving lessons, but his provisional licence expired before he could acquire a valid driver's licence.

Nazombe said Mpofu's case was aggravated by the fact that he was carrying 15 people in the vehicle who believed that he was a licensed driver.

"You put their lives and that of other road users in danger. A motor vehicle is not a wheelbarrow or toy car and that's the reason why the legislature has gazzeted laws that you get a licence before you drive. A deterrent sentence is called for, especially now that we are approaching the festive season," said Nazombe.

She advised Mpofu to approach the High Court if he wishes to appeal the sentence.