Tinotenda Hove – A 42-year-old kombi driver has been fined a total of US$400 after being convicted of several traffic offences related to transporting schoolchildren.

Kumbulani Tauzeni appeared before the Mbare Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he was found guilty of multiple violations, including carrying more passengers than permitted and operating without the required documents. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine will result in a four-month prison sentence.

Court records show that Tauzeni did not have a valid defensive driving certificate and also failed to produce a medical certificate issued by the General Medical Office (GMO), both of which are mandatory for drivers of public service vehicles.

For these two offences, he was fined US$100 each or would serve 30 days in prison per charge if he fails to pay.

He was also convicted of transporting more passengers than his kombi is legally allowed to carry. At the time of his arrest, the vehicle had 35 pupils and three teachers on board. For this offence, the court imposed a US$200 fine or an additional 60 days in prison if the amount is not paid.

Tauzeni was arrested along Amalinda Road while driving an unroadworthy public service vehicle. Authorities said he had been running a school transport service between Fidelity and Kudakwashe Primary School in Glen Norah B.