Police Stall Probe Into 2018 Crash Involving CJ Malaba’s Vehicle
The family of Herosi Moyo, a 64-year-old man from Silungidzi village, Matopo, fears police may have quietly closed investigations into an accident involving Chief Luke Justice Malaba’s vehicle that left him (Moyo) injured and hospitalised.
Moyo was cycling from a shopping centre in Tshapo village and was about to reach his homestead when he was knocked down by Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s vehicle in December 2018.
Lovemore Mangena, who works at the High Court in Bulawayo, was driving the vehicle at the time with Malaba, his wife and their housekeeper as passengers who were travelling to Bulawayo from his home in Kezi.
Mangena has never been arrested or charged, and the victim says police have never taken a statement from him.
When Malaba’s car hit Moyo, the latter was left bleeding from the ears and with a visible head wound.
Moyo’s family fears the accident triggered a mental illness as he now exhibits symptoms associated with dementia.
Mangena told CITE that he recalls driving behind Moyo who was cycling “whilst carrying a Calabash”. He said:
I hooted at him as I approached but he cycled into the road and the car hit him, denting the mirror. I stopped afterwards and took him to Natisa Clinic and left the Chief Justice there after calling another driver to come and fetch him.
I left the bicycle at Kezi Police Station. I went there to make my statement after I had already made a report to a police officer who was at Natisa Clinic. As the ambulance took Moyo to Mpilo Central, I followed with his relatives.
Mangena added that once in Bulawayo, he assisted Moyo to conduct X-rays and paid part of the bills at Mpilo Hospital.
Moyo’s wife Margaret Nyathi said the total hospital bill was $840 and Malaba was supposed to compensate the family but that has not been done.
Meanwhile, Malaba is due to retire at midnight on May 15 when he turns 70, but he is reportedly seeking President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention to stay on.
