IT never rains but pours for prominent car dealer and socialite Matthew Musengezi who was arrested yesterday — just a day after he was acquitted of culpable homicide charges.
Musengezi had spent about three weeks in remand prison, ahead of his judgment day on Monday, in a case in which he faced the possibility of going to jail, had he been convicted.
However, Musengezi was acquitted on the culpable homicide charge but was found guilty on a lesser charge of failing to stop after an accident.
The businessman was fined US$150 and banned from driving for 30 days.
However, his relief was short-lived with Musengezi being nabbed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officers in Harare yesterday.
H-Metro could not determine last night as to the corruption case which led to the businessman being arrested last night.
“Yes, he has been arrested by ZACC officers and that should tell you that it’s a case linked to some form of corruption although I am not sure what it is,” said a source.
“It’s been a very difficult time for him, and his family, and when they were just celebrating that he has avoided jail in his other case, he has found himself in hot soup again.
“Remember he spent a long time in remand prison during his culpable homicide case because his bail bid was dismissed with the magistrate ruling that he was not fit for bail because the prosecution said he had been fleeing from justice.
“And, now, we have these developments and it’s just a mess for him right now.”
It could not be established last night if the case involves his car deals as Musengezi is involved in the buying and selling of luxury cars.
“He is set to come to court tomorrow (today),” said another source.
It has been a trying three weeks for the businessman who initially appeared in court last month facing five charges including culpable homicide, failing to stop, failing to report an accident within 24 hours, failing to render assistance and to guard a corpse after the accident.
However, magistrate Ntombizodwa Sibanda found him not guilty on the culpable homicide charge and ruled that the driver caused the accident because he was drunk.
State prosecutor, Charlotte Chikoore, had alleged that on August 9, 2021, Musengezi was involved in an accident which left a man dead along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare. In his defence, Musengezi told the court that the other car swerved into his lane, presumably as a last-gap measure to avoid collision with rubble which was on the street and, without due care, subtly clipped the rear right end part of his vehicle.
Musengezi said he did not change his lane and neither did he change his vehicle’s positional stance and, as such, he was not the cause of the accident which claimed the life of Zamba.
The magistrate agreed with his version of events and said the other driver might have been drunk because his evidence was marred with too many inconsistencies.
