Harare - The driver of the vehicle that collided with that of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week, killing his wife and injuring him, appeared in court Monday on charges of culpable homicide, lawyers said.

Chinoona Mwanda, 35, was driving the truck contracted by the US international development agency, USAID that side-swiped Tsvangirai's car, causing it to roll three times. Tsvangirai's wife of 31 years, Susan, was killed in the weekend crash.

Lawyer Chris Mhike said Mwanda appeared in the magistrate's court in the southern town of Chivhu, near the accident site, and was told he would face charges of culpable homicide.

He was granted bail of 100 Zimbabwe dollars, which at current exchange rates is worth about one-millionth of a US dollar.

Mwanda spoke to journalists when police took him to the scene on Saturday and was in tears as he repeated, "All I ask for is forgiveness." (dpa)