The Senior Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Mchinji today convicted and ordered a Zambian national to pay a fine of K2.2 million for reckless driving in a road accident that claimed five lives.

The court heard through state prosecutor Saddly Sambo that in July this year the convict Peter Banda, aged 42, who was driving a truck left his lane and hit a lorry killing five people on board including one of his passengers in the truck.

Passing his sentence, Senior Principal Resident Magistrate Rogers Michongwe ordered the convict to pay a compensation of K350,000 to each bereaved family, K200,000 to a Cyclist who sustained injuries and K250,000 as a penalty or in default serve 18 months jail term.

Banda hails from Mchenga village under Paramount Chief Mpezeni in Chipata district, Zambia.