Driver Ordered to Pay K2.8 Million For Reckless Driving
Published on June 15, 2026 at 1:39 PM by Edgar Naitha
The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Karonga has fined a 39-year old driver, Moses Mvula, K2.8 million after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of four passengers through reckless driving.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of K500,000 to each of the four bereaved families which he has paid.
State Advocate Counsel Patson Mumba told the court Friday that the accident occurred on May 5, 2026, at around 00:20 am when Mvula was driving a Mitsubishi Canter 3-tonne lorry, registration number KK 9912, from Chitipa to Karonga with about ten passengers on top of bags of beans.
“Upon reaching Tenenthe area along the Chitipa-Karonga M26 Road, the accused lost control of the motor vehicle while descending a steep slope and negotiating bends. The vehicle left the road, hit an embankment and overturned,” Mumba said.
The accident claimed the lives of four passengers, namely, Innocent Sikana, 23, of Mwenemposya Village in Chitipa District; Moses Ngosi, 31, of Mwawembe Village; Vincent Mwafulirwa, 29, of Mwamasapa Village; and Ndamyo Sembo, 52, of Mwakawoko Village in Karonga District.
The four sustained severe head and internal injuries and were pronounced dead on arrival at Karonga District Hospital.
Following investigations, police charged Mvula with four counts of causing death by negligent driving contrary to Section 126(4)(c) of the Road Traffic Act, one count of endangering the lives of persons travelling by road contrary to Section 237 of the Penal.
Mvula hails from Malawa Village under Traditional Authority Mwenewenya in Chitipa District
