A BULAWAYO farmer is facing a charge of culpable homicide after reversing his vehicle and running over an employee’s infant who was sleeping on the grass nearby.
Police confirmed the fatal traffic accident which occurred at a plot in Glengarry, Bulawayo, where Amathe Shumba (eight months old) from a neighbouring plot lost her life.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the mother of the child left her child sleeping while doing a tomato harvesting piece job.
“Circumstances are that on January 7 at 1pm, a male adult aged 52 years, who is a farmer, came and parked his vehicle at his plot, where he was harvesting tomatoes,” Msebele said.
“Amathe Shumba, and from the neighbouring plot, was left by her mother sleeping on the grass approximately five metres from the vehicle as she was doing a piece job harvesting tomatoes at that plot,” she added.
Msebele said the driver did not notice the baby who was sleeping, started his vehicle and then reversed, thereby running over the infant.
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“The infant sustained serious head injuries as well as bruises on the stomach and was taken to UBH [United Bulawayo Hospital], where she died upon admission,” Msebele added.
Police said the driver failed to keep a proper lookout and were charging the farmer with culpable homicide.