By frank Utonga
Chisenjere First Grade Magistrate Court in Lunzu, Blantyre, has sentenced truck driver Wiwa Kazembe to pay K200,000 fine or in default serve ten months imprisonment for parking a motor vehicle at unauthorized place and failing to produce a driver’s license.
The court heard that on 5 August, 2020, at around 10 am, Kazembe unlawfully parked his freightliner truck registration number F556 at Lunzu Trading Centre.
He also failed to produce his driver’s license when he was asked by the traffic police team, leading to his arrest.
Kazembe was charged with two counts; failing to produce driving license and wrong parking, charges he admitted to.
However, Kazembe
pleaded with the court to be lenient with him considering that he is the first offender and that he is a bread winner for his family.
However, the state appealed for a stiffer punishment considering that his conduct is one of the factors which is fueling an increase of road accidents in the country.
The state further said Kazembe was unpatriotic and needed a good punishment to deter would be offenders.
First Grade Magistrate George Chimombo concurred with the state and bemoaned the driver’s lack of respect for the rules and regulations on the road.
“The road is not for one man but for everyone and your conduct has indicated that you don’t love your friends who may as well need to use the same road,” the magistrate explained.
He went on to sentence Kazembe to pay K50,000 fine or in default spend three months in prison for wrong parking and K150,000 fine or in default serve seven months behind bars for failing to produce a driving license.
Kazembe has since paid the fines to escape the jail term.
Police continue to remind motorists that there is no parking space at Lunzu Trading centre.
Wiwa Kazembe, 42, comes from Jamison Village, Traditional Authority Kapeni in Blantyre.
Sub-Inspector Peter Mchiza
Public Relations Officer- Chileka Police Station
0991402889/0881025513*