Drunk driver loses licence for 30 days

By MULENGA MUSONDA THE Choma Magistrates’ Court has suspended a taxi driver’s licence for 30 days following his abrogation of the Road and Safety Act on New Year’s Day by driving under the influence of alcohol. Webster Simuusa was facing two counts of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and giving false information to a public officer contrary to the Laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offence in count one are that Simuusa drove a Toyota Runx bearing registration number BAL 4000 under the influence of 0.445 milligrams of alcohol above the permissible 0.3 milligrams to an extent of being incapable of having control of such vehicle. In the second count, Simuusa when approached by a public officer lied about his name and produced a licence belonging to a Progress Luwaile as his when in fact not. The incidents happened on January 1, 2021 in Choma. When he appeared for plea before Principal Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo, Simuusa admitted both counts and stated that he produced his friend’s licence because he was drunk. Magistrate Mupemo after listening to his mitigation expressed dismay at his lack of sincerity. Ms Mupemo suspended his licence for 30 days and slapped him with a fine of K2, 000 or six months in jail with hard labour. She also fined him K500 in the second count before he was informed of his right to appeal to the High Court within 14 days if he was not happy with the ruling.