A bus driver working for the Inter Africa Bus Company has found himself in court over an undelivered parcel. Japhet Lunga, 61, was fined US$300 for neglecting his duty, a misstep that left the intended recipient empty-handed and frustrated. The court heard that failure to settle the fine would result in a five-month prison sentence, with two of those months suspended on condition of restitution.
The case centred on a parcel entrusted to Lunga on 3 August 2024. Prosecutor Mehluli Ndlovu outlined how the driver accepted a suitcase from the daughter of Nhlalwenhliwe Pamela Moyo in Harare. The items were destined for Moyo, a teacher at DLM Primary School in Ntabazinduna.
However, when Moyo presented herself at the Inter Africa garage in Bulawayo the following day to collect her property, she was met with a bewildering situation. A security guard on duty informed her that Driver Lunga was unavailable, having reportedly travelled to Victoria Falls.
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“All attempts to contact him by mobile phone proved futile,” stated Ndlovu.
This left Moyo stranded without her belongings valued at US$105.
Magistrate Decries ‘Carelessness’ in Passenger Service
With the suitcase never recovered, the court emphasised the serious nature of the offence. Magistrate Maxwell Ncube did not mince words when passing sentence, expressing clear dissatisfaction with the lack of responsibility shown. He underscored the fundamental trust placed in transport services by the public.
Magistrate Ncube declared,
“Passengers and clients trust service providers to deliver their property safely. Such carelessness will attract both fines and jail time if repeated.”
The ruling served as a stark warning to other operators in the industry about the consequences of professional negligence.
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Facing the court’s decision, Japhet Lunga offered no elaborate defence for his actions. He quietly accepted the judgment, providing no clarification for the sudden trip to Victoria Falls that directly led to the breach of trust.
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The post Inter Africa Bus Driver Lands In Court Over An Undelivered Parcel appeared first on iHarare News.
