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Appearing before Victoria Falls magistrate, Miss Sharon Rosemani for a bail ruling in which he is facing three charges of contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, “culpable homicide, failing to stop after a serious accident, failing to report a serious accident” was Collen Siziba.

Siziba of House Number 4935, Chinotimba Township allegedly wanted the vehicle fixed before the police caught up with him in a bid to destroy evidence after a hit-and-run accident in which a 17-year-old boy was killed along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road last week.

Siziba, who was represented by Mr Thembelani Khumalo of Cheda and Partners, was denied bail and remanded in custody to 30 April for trial.

In refusing him bail, Miss Rosemani said the suspect faced three serious charges and he was therefore likely to abscond.

“After the accident the accused allegedly looked for a panel beater to fix the vehicle with the intention of concealing evidence. He is also likely interfere with State witnesses. The main issue is absconding as he made clear attempts to evade arrest. He prioritised panel beating the vehicle instead of reporting the accident,” she said.

Added Miss Rosemani: “The assertion that he wanted to evade mob justice does not hold water since he could have gone to seek protection from the police. The lawyer said that he was in a state of shock but in the same shock he wanted to panel beat the vehicle.

“Looking at all these facts, especially behaviour I cannot say confidently that  if remanded out of custody he will stand trial and for that reason bail is denied,” she said.

It is the State case as presented by the prosecutor Mr Takunda Ndovorwi that on 8 April and on the 434km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road, Siziba hit and killed a pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing and he did not stop.

Siziba also did not report the accident to the police and was found in possession of the vehicle that had been involved in the accident.
The boy was pronounced dead on arrival at Victoria Falls District Hospital from the injuries he sustained in the accident.