Chillmaster Banned from Driving for Nine Months

Zimbabwean musician Kudakwashe Gift Hombarume, popularly known as Chillmaster, has been prohibited from driving for nine months after being convicted of culpable homicide and driving without a valid license.

The ruling follows a tragic accident in May that resulted in the death of pedestrian Custon Charumbira.

Initially, Chillmaster was sentenced to 210 hours of community service and fined US$200 for the traffic violation. However, the presiding Judge President, Justice Mary Zimba-Dube, found this punishment too lenient considering the severity of the case.

She ordered the case to be sent back to the magistrate for reconsideration and a harsher penalty.

In her remarks, Justice Zimba-Dube emphasized the gravity of reckless driving and the importance of setting a strong example. “Driving with gross negligence, especially under circumstances that lead to loss of life, warrants a firm response from the courts,” she stated. “Community service alone is insufficient to deter such dangerous behavior.”

Following the review, Magistrate Tendai Mukurunge handed down a nine-month driving ban while maintaining a non-custodial sentence. The magistrate noted that while imprisonment was excessive, a fine alone wouldn’t adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence.

In mitigation, the court considered Chillmaster’s commitment to support the victim’s family paying school fees, providing groceries, and assisting with other needs as a sign of remorse and responsibility.

The victim’s family, represented by Lucia Charumbira, expressed a desire for the musician to participate in memorial and traditional rituals, underscoring the cultural importance of his presence and obligations to prevent spirits of vengeance.

Chillmaster’s nine-month driving ban serves as a reminder of the consequences of neglecting road safety, even for those in the limelight.