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Adelaide Moyo, Chronicle Reporters
TWO police officers stationed at Lupane Police Station have been arrested for negligent driving and driving without a licence after a vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a pedestrian.

Constable Abraham Chokera was driving the vehicle belonging to Constable Ernest Mahoko when the accident occurred on May 7 this year.

The two were travelling with their girlfriends Charity Sibanda and Brenda Ndlovu.

Constables Chokera and Mahoko appeared before Lupane magistrate Ndumo Masuku yesterday charged with negligent driving and driving without a licence.

Both cops had no valid driver’s licences.

The duo, represented by Tonderai Mukuku of Marondedze, Mukuku and Partners and Emmanuel Mlalazi of Dube-Banda Nzarayapenga Legal practitioners, pleaded not guilty.

Const Mahoko was found not guilty after witnesses told the court that Const Chokera is the one who was driving the car.

Const Chokera had his plea of not guilty altered to guilty after consultation with his lawyer.

He was fined $300 for driving without a valid licence and was remanded to a later date for sentencing on the negligent driving charge.

Prosecuting, Sanders Sibanda said the car was speeding.

“On May 7, Const Chokera was given car keys by Const Mahoko to drive the vehicle belonging to the later. Const Chokera drove from the police camp to Lupane centre and later on the same day Const Mahoko joined him,” said Sibanda.

“The two drove to Lupane Beer Garden where they picked their girlfriends Charity Sibanda and Brenda Ndlovu. They proceeded to Downtown Shopping Centre. When they approached a curve at the 1km peg due east along the Lupane-Nkayi road, the car veered off the road to the right and hit a pedestrian Mgcini Ndlovu.”

He said the car only stopped after hitting a tree.

Ndlovu sustained bruises on the face and a fractured pelvic bone while their girlfriends sustained some injuries.

The State said the cops were driving at an excessive speed and hence they failed to stop when an accident seemed imminent.