Court Reporter| The driver of the South African registered haulage truck, Regis Mungwari (29) who was driving a haulage truck to Harare carrying tyres, has been charged with 20 cases of culpable homicide.

20 victims were burnt beyond recognition while 41 were critically injured in the horrific accident that happened when a South Africa-bound Proliner Bus sideswiped Mungwari’s haulage truck and caught fire in Chirumanzu.

Mungwari appeared before Mvuma magistrate’s Court on Friday 07 April 2017 facing 20 Cases of Culpable homicide and was remanded in custody to April 20. He was denied bail by the Mvuma magistrate’s court and taken to Hwahwa Remand Prison.

Hwahwa prison is the infamous penitentiary which housed President Robert Mugabe during the Ian Smith regime era, ZimEye reveals. Mugabe spent 10 years at Hwahwa prison from 1964 to 1974.

In denying Regis bail, the magistrate said he was not a proper candidate for bail considering that:
1) He did not have a fixed address in Zimbabwe.
2) Employee in South Africa and could escape.
3) He could commit suicide.

Mungwari’s wife Mai Anjienate (Ivy Taruberekera) broke down in tears as she suckled Regis Mungwari 3 weeks old baby on Friday when Mvuma magistrate’s court denied her husband bail. Mungwari was in the country as a South African truck driver, and to grant him bail the court would be required to legalise his residency status while he was awaiting trial.