By John Cassim
HARARE, Zimbabwe
The son of Zimbabwe's first lady, Grace Mugabe, was convicted Friday of culpable homicide following a traffic accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian on Feb. 23.
According to the prosecutor, President Robert Mugabe's stepson, Russell Goreraza, 31, was driving just before midnight in the capital, Harare, when he hit a male pedestrian who died on the spot.
During his court appearance on Friday, Goreraza pleaded guilty and apologized for the accident. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $800 or spend two months in prison.
During her verdict, Harare provincial magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe said there was no evidence of gross negligence.
“I would not have hesitated to cancel your driver's license if there was evidence of gross negligence, however in this case, the accused cooperated and, by apologizing and pleading guilty, did not waste the court’s time,” the magistrate said.
Russell Goreraza is Grace Mugabe's first son from her first marriage, which ended in divorce. She married Robert Mugabe in 1996.
