The Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Court has slapped a South African-registered truck driver with an effective five-year jail term for the Seke Road horror crash that killed 17 people and injured five others in July 2025.
Desire Madiviko (56) was convicted of culpable homicide after prosecutors proved he was speeding when he lost control of his Nissan UD truck, ploughed onto a road island, hit pedestrians and smashed head-on into a commuter omnibus before the truck overturned on top of the kombi.
The court ruled that Madiviko’s conduct amounted to gross negligence, saying his reckless driving cost innocent lives and devastated families.
On top of the prison term, he was slapped with a lifetime ban from driving Class 2 vehicles, a two-year ban from all other classes, and all his licences were cancelled.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the sentence sends a clear message to drivers of heavy commercial and public service vehicles that recklessness will not be tolerated, stressing that every motorist has a duty to protect life and ensure safety on the country’s roads
