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Nyore Madzianike Senior Court Reporter

FOUR men from Chitungwiza have been ordered to perform 630 hours of community service after they were found guilty of negligently installing a water tank that fell on three children, resulting in the death of two and injury of the third.

Tapiwa Gunda (31), Blessed Nyamhondoro (51), Zororai Munyoro (37) and Gerald Mutondoro (21) were initially jailed for 24 months when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa before six months of their jail term was set aside on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining 18 months jail term was suspended on condition that each of them performs 630 hours of community service.

Gunda will perform his unpaid work at Chitungwiza Police Station, Nyamhondoro will be at Fungisai Primary School with Munyoro being deployed to Seke 2 High School.

Mutondoro will perform his community service at Zengeza 4 High School.

The quartet was convicted of two counts of culpable homicide after a full trial. They installed the 5 000-litre tank that fell and resulted in the death of Trinity Saungweme (10) and her neighbour Coleen Kamonere and injured Thulani Saungweme.

The State led by Ms Trinity Nyandebvu had it that sometime in September last year, Gunda contracted Nyamhondoro to install the water tank at his residence.

Nyamhondoro then hired Tinovimbanashe Tavangwena to fabricate the water tank stand.

After the tank stand was completed, Nyamhondoro told Gunda that he would install the tank on the following day since he was committed to other business.

Gunda could not wait for the next day saying his brother, who was funding installation of the water tank wanted it done on the same day.

Nyamhondoro then instructed Munyoro and Mutondoro to install the water tank despite the fact that the concrete was still fresh.

Tavangwena refused to participate and left the place leaving Munyoro and Mutondoro installing the tank. A month later, Gunda hired Ralphonsin Nasho and Tawanda Kanyurira to supply water and fill the tank.

Nasho and Kanyurira finished the job at around 4pm and after 30 minutes of the tank filling with water, it collapsed and hit Trinity Saungweme, Coleen Kamonere and Thulani Saungweme, who were playing outside the gate.

The three were rushed to Chitungwiza General Hospital where Trinity and Coleen were pronounced dead on arrival.

Thulani sustained a fractured leg and was treated and later discharged from hospital.

The quartet was arrested and charged with two counts of culpable homicide.